 Delaney first came to prominence on the inter-county scene in the 1970s as a member of the Offaly minor and under-21 hurling teams.He had little success in these grades and little more was expected when he joined the senior grade as Offaly were down the pecking order in terms of hurling in Leinster.He made his senior debut in October 1974 when he lined out in the number 10 jersey against Antrim in the National Hurling League.