Born in Ardfinnan, County Tipperary, Phelan first arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Tipperary minor team before later joining the under-21 side.
Phelan was born in Ardfinnan. Phelan first arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Tipperary minor team before later joining the under-21 side. Ardfinnan was County Tipperary.