Young Irelands junior team. He began as a goalkeeper before taking up his more regular position in the full-forward line. Kilkenny Minor and under-21 After narrowly missing out on a place on the Kilkenny minor hurling team in 1987, Carey was added to the team in advance of the 1988 Leinster Championship. He made his debut on 25 May 1988 and scored 1-03 from left corner-forward in Kilkenny's 1–18 to 2–07 defeat of Dublin. Carey again lined out at left corner-forward when Kilkenny faced Offaly in the Leinster final. He was held scoreless from play but ended the game with a winners' medal after a 2–16 to 0–06 victory. On 4 September 1988, Carey scored 1-02 from left corner-forward when Kilkenny defeated Cork by 3–13 to 0–12 in the All-Ireland final. Carey was drafted onto the Kilkenny under-21 team for the 1990 Leinster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 1 July 1990 when he scored two goals in Kilkenny's 4–11 to 1–09 defeat of Offaly. On 15 July 1990, Carey won a Leinster Championship medal after top scoring with 1-04 from left corner-forward in Kilkenny's 2–09 to 1–10 defeat of Laois in the final. He was switched to right corner-forward for the All-Ireland final against Tipperary on 9 September 1990. Carey scored 1-01 from play and ended the game with a winners' medal after the 2–11 to 1–11 victory. On 7 August 1991, Carey lined out in a second successive Leinster final. He top scored for Kilkenny with five points, however, he ended the game on the losing side following a 2–10 to 0–12 defeat by Offaly. It was Carey's last game in the under-21 grade. Senior Having just graduated from the minor grade, Carey was added to the Kilkenny senior team during the 1988-89 National League. He made his senior debut on 19 February 1989 when he lined out in goal in Kilkenny's 0–13 to 1–08 defeat of Offaly. Carey was later included as sub-goalkeeper to Kevin Fennelly for the 1989. Carey's tenure as a goalkeeper ended during the 1989-90 National League when he was switched to an outfield player. He made his first appearance as a forward on 15 October 1989 when he scored 0–10 in Kilkenny's 0–20 to 2–08 defeat of Antrim. On 22 April 1990, Carey scored 1-04 from play when Kilkenny defeated Wexford by 3–12 to 1–10 in the National League