Beginnings with Clare

McInerney first lined out for Clare in 1913, at a time when the team's fortunes were about to take an upturn.

In 1914 Clare defeated Kerry and Tipperary to reach their first provincial decider in over a decade. Cork provided the opposition and, after a close hour of hurling, Clare emerged victorious by 3–2 to 3–1. It was McInerney's first Munster medal. This victory set up an All-Ireland final meeting with Laois on 18 October 1914. A hat-trick of goals from Jim Guerin, an opening goal from Jim Clancy and a second half goal from Martin Moloney set up a 5–1 to 1–0 victory. It was Clare's first All-Ireland title and a first winners' medal for McInerney.^[3]

Clare surrendered their Munster and All-Ireland crowns in 1915 following an 8–2 to 2–1 trouncing by Cork in the provincial decider.

In 1918 McInerney's side faced another humiliating Munster final defeat, this time when Limerick triumphed by 11–3 to 1–2.

Transfer to Dublin

After more than a decade with Clare, McInerney transferred to Dublin in 1927. He won his first Leinster medal that year following a 7–7 to 4–6 defeat of Kilkenny. On 4 September 1927 Dublin faced reigning champions Cork in the All-Ireland decider. McInerney was one of nine members of the Garda Síochána on the Dublin team who took a 2–3 to 0–1 lead at half-time. Cork fought back in the third quarter, however, McInerney collected his second All-Ireland medal following a 4–8 to 1–3 victory.

McInerney added a second Leinster medal to his collection in 1928 following a 9–7 to 4–3 defeat of Offaly.

In 1930 McInerney's Dublin renewed their rivalry with Cork, this time in the final of the National Hurling League. A 7–4 to 5–5 victory gave him his first league medal. He later secured a third Leinster medal, when Laois were downed by 4–7 to 2–2 in the provincial final. This victory paved the way for an All-Ireland showdown with Tipperary on 7 September 1930. Goals at the end of the first half from Martin Kennedy and John Joe Callanan gave Tipp a platform to secure a 2–7 to 1–3 victory.

Return to Clare

In 1932 McInerney returned to the Clare senior hurling team. His return was a fruitful one as the team reached the Munster decider against Cork. The game itself saw Clare triumph for the first time since 1914. A score line of 5–2 to 4–1 gave McInerney his second Munster medal. Near neighbours Galway were accounted for in the All-Ireland semi-final, before Clare faced Kilkenny in the decider on 4 September 1932. In a low-scoring but tense game Clare's Tull Considine scored two goals and was foiled for what would almost certainly have been a third. These goals were negated by Kilkenny's three goal-scoring heroes Matty Power, Martin White and Lory Meagher. The final score of 3–3 to 2–3 gave victory to Kilkenny.

McInerney retired from inter-county hurling in 1933.