 Browne failed to make the Cork minor hurling team but came to prominence with the Cork under-21 side.He made his first appearance at left wing-forward on 24 June 1993 in a 4-10 to 2-14 defeat of Tipperary in the Munster Championship.On 23 July, he won a Munster Championship medal after Cork's 1-19 to 3-09 defeat of Limerick in the final.