Williams first played hurling and Gaelic football at juvenile and underage levels with the Kilruane MacDonaghs club.[2] He was part of the club's under-21 hurling team that won four consecutive Tipperary Under-21AHC, while he also won a Tipperary U21AFC title. Williams eventually progressed onto the club's senior team and was at right wing-forward on the Kilruane MacDonaghs team that won the All-Ireland Club Championship title in 1986.[3][4]
At inter-county level, Williams never played at minor or under-21 levels. His performances at club level earned a call-up to the senior team in 1986.[5] Williams claimed his first inter-county silverware following the 1987 Munster final replay defeat of Cork.[6][7]