Born in Tralee, County Kerry, O'Dowd was born into a strong Gaelic football family. His father, Tom, enjoyed a distinguished career with the John Mitchels club while he also played for Kerry at minor, junior and senior levels.[2]
O'Dowd first appeared for the John Mitchels club at underage levels, winning a county under-21 championship medal in 1983. He had made his senior debut as a fifteen year-old in 1978, however, he enjoyed little success in this grade. O'Dowd also lined out with the Thomas Davis club in Dublin.[citation needed]
O'Dowd made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he was picked on the Kerry minor team. He enjoyed two championship seasons with the minor team, winning an All-Ireland medal in 1980. O'Dowd made his senior debut during the 1982-83 league. Over the course of the next five seasons, he won three All-Ireland medals in-a-row from 1984 to 1986. O'Dowd also won three Munster medals and one National Football League medal. He played his last game for Kerry in February 1988.[citation needed]
O'Dowd was chosen on the Munster inter-provincial team in 1986, however, he ended his career without a Railway Cup medal.[citation needed]
