He played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1950s.
O'Brien played his club hurling with the famous Glen Rovers team on the north side of Cork city and enjoyed much success.
After a period in the wilderness the Cork team bounced back in 1952 with O'Brien capturing a Munster winners' medal following a defeat of three-in-a-row All-Ireland champions Tipperary in the provincial decider.
[1] Dublin provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland final, however ‘the Dubs’ were completely outclassed by Cork on that occasion.
In spite of only leading by three points at half-time Cork won by 2-14 to 0-7 and picked up an All-Ireland winners' medal.