Born in Urhan, County Cork, Downing first played competitive football in his youth. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Cork minor team, before later joining the under-21 and junior sides.[3] He made his senior debut during the 1967 championship. Downing was a regular member of the panel for several years and won one Munster medal as a non-playing substitute. He was All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.