as a 16-year-old. On 22 March 1987, Carey was listed amongst the substitutes when St. Kieran's College faced Birr Community School in the Leinster final. He was introduced as a substitute and collected a winners' medal following the 4–08 to 3–09 victory. On 10 May 1987, Carey lined out at right corner-forward when St Kieran's College played St Flannan's College from Ennis in the All-Ireland final. He scored a point from play but ended on the losing side following a 4–11 to 1–07 defeat. On 27 March 1988, Carey lined out at right corner-forward when St Kieran's College faced Enniscorthy CBS in the Leinster final. He claimed a second successive winners' medal after scoring 2–05 in the 8–17 to 1–06 victory. Carey retained his position at right corner-forward for the All-Ireland final on 8 May 1988. He scored two points from play and claimed his first All-Ireland medal after a 3–10 to 2–07 defeat of Midleton CBS. Carey lined out in a third successive Leinster final on 15 April 1989. He scored 1-05 from full-forward in the 1-07 apiece draw with Birr Community School. Carey retained the full-forward position for the replay on 23 April 1989 but was limited to just a point from play in the 2–11 to 1–09 victory. On 8 May 1989, he lined out in a third successive All-Ireland final. Carey received a pain-killing injection just before the match but scored 3-03 and collected a second successive winners' medal following the 3–05 to 1–09 defeat of St Flannan's College. Young Irelands Carey joined the Young Irelands club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels. He became a regular member of the club's top adult team during the 1988 Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship. On 24 September 1989, Carey was just 18-years-old when he played in his first Kilkenny Intermediate Championship final. Lining out in goal he ended the game on the losing side following a 2–13 to 0–14 defeat by Mullinavat. Carey lined out in a second Kilkenny Intermediate Championship final on 27 October 1991, however, by now he was lining out at centre-forward. He scored 1-02, including a goal from a penalty, in the 4–09 to 2–08 defeat by Dicksboro. On 18 October 1992, Carey lined out in a second successive Kilkenny Intermediate Championship final - his third overall. Selected to play at full-forward, he suffered concussion after a