Galligan first played competitive hurling at primary school in Caherdavin before lining out for CBS Sexton Street team in the Dr. Harty Cup. His early club career with CLaughaun yielded county championship titles in every juvenile and underage grade before winning his only County Championship title at senior level in 1986. Galligan's first inter-county experience came during a two-year spell with the Limerick minor team, which was followed by two seasons with the under-21 team. He made his senior debut against Kilkenny during the 1989–90 league. Galligan was a stalwart of the team for much of the following decade and was included on the Limerick teams that lost the All-Ireland finals in 1994 and 1996. His career honours include two Munster Championship medals, two National League titles and a Railway Cup medal with Munster. Galligan retired from inter-county hurling in December 2000.[2]