Carney made his debut on the inter-county scene when he was selected for the Mayo senior team during the 1930–31 league. After being dropped from the team the following year he was recalled in 1933 after winning an All-Ireland medal with the Mayo junior team. Over the course of the next eight seasons, Carney won one All-Ireland medals as left wing-forward on the team in 1936. He also won five Connacht medals and seven National Football League medals. He played his last game for Mayo in June 1941.
As a regular member of the Connacht inter-provincial team, Carney won a total of four Railway Cup medals.
Carney was appointed co-trainer of the Mayo senior team along with Gerald Courell in 1948. His tenure in charge saw the team win back-to-back All-Ireland titles in 1950 and 1951.
Carney's nephew, Martin, had a lengthy inter-county career with Donegal and Mayo.
