Born in Lusmagh, County Offaly, Troy first came to prominence during a two-year spell as goalkeeper with the Offaly minor team.[1] After a period with the under-21 side, he joined the Offaly senior team as understudy to Damien Martin during the 1981-82 National League. Troy claimed his first silverware in 1984 when Offaly won the Leinster Championship. He took over as first-choice goalkeeper the following year and ended the season as an All-Ireland Championship-winner after a defeat of Galway in the final.[2] Troy won a further three provincial titles between 1988 and 1990, the last of which saw him captain the team as a result of Lusmagh's County Championship success the previous year.[3][4] The success continued with Offaly claiming the 1990-91 league. Troy won a sixth provincial medal in 1994 before ending the season with a second All-Ireland winners' medal alongside his brother John.[5] His inclusion on the Leinster team saw him claim two Railway Cup medals.