Born in Borrisoleigh, County Tipperary, Finn first played competitive hurling during his schooling at Thurles CBS. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Tipperary minor team. He made his senior debut during the 1950-49 National Hurling League. Finn was a regular member of the starting fifteen for the next decade, and won three All-Ireland medals, three Munster medals and six National League medals. Finn captained the team to the All-Ireland title in 1951.