[3] Hone made his debut for Ireland in September 1861, playing against I Zingari.
He played against the Irish military the following month, against the MCC in May 1862 and against I Zingari in September 1863,[2] before beginning his first-class career.
He made his first-class debut for the MCC in July 1864, playing against Middlesex at Lord's.
[2] He followed this with a match against I Zingari, scoring 91 in the Irish innings, his only half-century for Ireland.
Three of his cousins, William, Thomas and Jeffery, also played for Ireland as did his son Pat.