Born in
Ballindine,
County Mayo, Cleary joined the
Castlehaven club after being stationed as a Garda in
Castletownshend,
County Cork. He had previously lined out with the
Garda club in
Cork. When his playing days ended he took over as team trainer, guiding the team to the South West junior B title tin 1969. The club's first ever
divisional junior A title followed in 1973, followed by the
County Junior Championship in 1976 and the
County Intermediate Championship in 1978. After stepping down as trainer in 1982, Cleary took over as club chairman. His tenure saw the club win their very first
County Senior Championship title in
1989, before later claiming the
Munster Club Championship. ==Honours==