A second-generation cricketer - his father Alexander "Junior" McBrine and uncle James McBrine both played for Ireland - Andy McBrine found a place in the 2012 U-10 side as a batting allrounder, but it would be his offspin that broke him into the senior team in 2014.

He showed impressive temperament in taking 2 for 26 from four overs in Ireland's victory over Zimbabwe in the 2014 World T20, his first game against a Test-playing side. But his next outing was less successful - his only over against Netherlands went for 24 runs, including four sixes, in a stunning defeat. In May 2018, McBrine was named the front-line spinner in the Ireland squad for Ireland's maiden Test, against Pakistan, but he only made his Test debut the following year, against Afghanistan in Dehradun. In 2021, McBrine picked up his first career five-for in an ODI against Afghanistan, albeit in a losing cause.

At the domestic level, McBrine has been a respected captain for North West in the Interprovincial tournament and has also been a key figure in Ireland's white-ball Intercontinental Cup squads.