Noel Hickey

Noel Leonard Hickey (born 22 December 1980) is an Irish hurler who played as a full-back at senior level for the Kilkenny county team.

Born in Danganmore near Dunnamaggin, County Kilkenny, Hickey first played competitive hurling whilst at school in Coláiste Éamann Rís.

He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he first linked up with the Kilkenny minor team, before later lining out with the under-21 side.

He first came to prominence as a member of the club's minor side, winning a county title in this grade in 1995.

It was a hugely successful period for the south Kilkenny club, as Hickey won his first under-21 county title in 1996 when he was only fifteen years-old.

In 1997 the club reached the senior county championship final for the very first time in their history.

Reigning champions Young Irelands provided the opposition.

Hickey had been impressive in some challenge games leading up to the final and was handed his senior championship debut just hours before the start of the game.

It was a family affair as the full-back line consisted of Hickey at left corner-back while his two brothers provided support to his right.

Dunnamaggin won the game by 2–10 to 2–7, giving Hickey and his club a first county title at senior level.

Dunnamaggin failed to retain the title the following year, while also suffering the ignominy of being relegated from the senior competition.

Hickey first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Kilkenny minor team in 1997.

He won a Leinster title that year following a fifteen-point trouncing of Offaly.

Kilkenny's minor were later beaten in the All-Ireland semi-final.

He added a second minor county title to his collection three years later in 1998.

By this stage Hickey was also a key member of the Dunnamaggin under-21 side.

Two more under-21 titles followed in 1998 and 1999.

Hickey was still only a member of the club's minor team when he joined the Dunnamaggin senior team.

Hickey was eligible for the minor grade again in 1998.

He added a second Leinster title to his collection that year following a comprehensive defeat of Wexford in a replay.

Kilkenny later made it all the way to the final where Cork provided the opposition.

A 2–15 to 1–9 score line resulted in defeat for Kilkenny.

In 1999 Hickey joined the Kilkenny under-21 team and was appointed captain for the year.

He made his senior debut in the 2000 championship.

Hickey went on to play a key part for Kilkenny in what has come to be known as the greatest team of all time, and has won nine All-Ireland medals – eight of which were won on the field of play – nine Leinster medals and four National League medals.

His brother, Tom Hickey, was a two-time All-Ireland runner-up with Kilkenny.

The club bounced back to reclaim their senior status in 2000, following victory in the intermediate county championship final.

Hickey represented the Leinster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions in the early part of his career, winning back-to-back Inter-provincial medals in 2002 and 2003.

At club level he won one championship medal with Dunnamaggin.

Cited by many of his hurling peers as one of the best full-backs of his generation, Hickey won three All-Star awards while he also won the All-Star Young Hurler of the Year award in his debut season.

Hickey has made 47 championship appearances for Kilkenny, more than any other full-back in the county's history.

In 2002 Hickey lined out in his second county championship decider at senior level.

Once again it was Young Irelands who provided the opposition.

Hickey faced a tough afternoon at full-back as D. J. Carey, his opposite number, scored a remarkable 2–7 to give Young Irelands a 3–14 to 1–15 victory.

He announced his retirement from inter-county hurling on 12 January 2013.

Hickey was born at St. Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny, to parents Andrew and Anne Hickey.

The second youngest in a family of six brothers and two sisters, his father died when he was just a toddler.

Hickey was educated locally at St. Leonard's National School in Dunnamaggin before later attending Coláiste Éamann Rís in nearby Callan.

He later trained at Kildalton College, a third level agricultural institute.

Hickey plays his club hurling with his local Dunnamaggin club and has enjoyed much success.