Originally from near Virginia, Paddy won a Cavan JFC medal with Virginia Blues in 1958 alongside his brother Bertie, who would go on to win senior championships with the Blues in '59 and '62. By that stage, Paddy was plying his trade in Coverntry and there he won an intermediate championship with St Finbar's in 1959. His sons Andrew and Brendan played with the Gaeil Colmcille club.