At club level he played with Killarney Legion, Templenoe and Kenmare and was also a member of the Kerry senior football team.
Spillane first appeared on the inter-county scene as a member of the Kerry minor football team that won consecutive Munster MFC titles in 1940 and 1941.
[5] In retirement from playing Spillane served as a selector and was part of the selection committee when the Kerry senior team was beaten by Galway in the 1964 All-Ireland final.
[6] His sons, Pat, Mick and Tom Jnr, all played with Kerry and won a combined total of 19 All-Ireland SFC medals between 1975 and 1986.
[7] His grandsons, Adrian and Killian Spillane, brought the family medal haul to 21 when they were part of Kerry's All-Ireland-winning team in 2022.