Minor and under-21

Callanan first played for Cork as a member of the minor team on 6 August 2000 in a 2-17 to 1-11 All-Ireland semi-final defeat of Dublin.^[5] On 10 September, he was at left wing-back when Cork suffered a 2-19 to 4-10 defeat by Galway in the All-Ireland final.^[6]

On 9 July 2002, Callanan made his first appearance for the Cork under-21 team in a 1-15 to 1-14 Munster Championship semi-final defeat by Limerick. His under-21 tenure ended with a Munster final replay defeat by Tipperary on 3 August 2003.

Senior

Callanan made his first appearance for the Cork senior hurling team on 22 February 2004 in a 0-14 to 1-09 National Hurling League defeat of Limerick.^[7] He was a regular player during all of Cork's eight group stage league games but failed to secure a place on the starting fifteen for the Munster Championship. On 12 September 2004, Callanan was an unused substitute when Cork defeated Kilkenny by 0-17 to 0-09 in the All-Ireland final^[8]

On 22 May 2005, Callanan made his first championship appearance as a substitute in a 2-17 to 2-15 defeat of Waterford in the Munster Championship semi-final. He was later an unused substitute when Cork defeated Tipperary by 1-21 to 1-16 to win the Munster Championship.^[9] On 11 September, Callanan won his second All-Ireland medal as a non-playing substitute when Cork defeated Galway by 1-21 to 1-16 in the All-Ireland final.^[10]

Callanan was dropped from the Cork senior team in 2006 but returned the following year. He made his last appearance for the team on 18 July 2009 when he came on as a substitute in Cork's 1-19 to 0-15 defeat by Galway.^[11]