Noel Hickey retires

zol 2

9 All Irelands, 6 National Leagues, 3 All Stars,surely one of the finest fullbacks of his era. Best of luck to him in his retirement.

me89

One of the greats. Enjoy the retirement Noel.

dastardly00

9 All-Ireland SHC (2000,02-03,06-09,11, 12), 11 Leinster SHC (2000-03,05-11), 6 NHL (2002-03, 2005-06, 2009,12), 4 Walsh Cup (2005-06, 2009,12), 3 All-Stars (2000, 2003, 2008), 1 Young Hurler of the Year (2000), 2 Railway Cup (2002-03), 1 All-Ireland U21HC (1999), 1 Leinster U21HC (1999), 2 Leinster MHC (1997-98), 1 Kilkenny SHC (1997), 1 Kilkenny IHC (2000), 3 Kilkenny U21HC A (1996, 1998-99), 1 Kilkenny MHC A (1995, 1998), 1 Agricultural Colleges All-Ireland SHC (Kildalton: 1999), 1 Leinster Colleges SHC A (Coláiste Eamonn Rís, Callan: 1998).

Legend.

Jimmy Iovine

What a player he was. Sad to see him retire. He has won more titles than most counties have in their entire history. One of the all-time greats.

romaderwdcsax

Good luck noel. Enjoy your time off. Always enjoyed watching him play when he was beating us (cork) in croke park

Best of luck to Noel Hickey. Hardy and fearless divil and arguably one of the most combative full backs of all time.

randd1

A magnificent player, an absolute legend. Some players got the best of him, none got the best of him twice.

And to come back the way he did after the heart problem as well was inspirational. He was always one of the more popular players for us Kilkenny fans, and always will be.

Good luck to him in his retirement, and thanks to the memories.

Fireball07

One of the best...an outstanding full-back, a lynchpin in what is probably the greatest side ever to play the game.

dzer2

Thanks Noel

mccarthy37

dastardly00 wrote: »

9 All-Ireland SHC (2000,02-03,06-09,11, 12), 11 Leinster SHC (2000-03,05-11), 6 NHL (2002-03, 2005-06, 2009,12), 4 Walsh Cup (2005-06, 2009,12), 3 All-Stars (2000, 2003, 2008), 1 Young Hurler of the Year (2000), 2 Railway Cup (2002-03), 1 All-Ireland U21HC (1999), 1 Leinster U21HC (1999), 2 Leinster MHC (1997-98), 1 Kilkenny SHC (1997), 1 Kilkenny IHC (2000), 3 Kilkenny U21HC A (1996, 1998-99), 1 Kilkenny MHC A (1995, 1998), 1 Agricultural Colleges All-Ireland SHC (Kildalton: 1999), 1 Leinster Colleges SHC A (Coláiste Eamonn Rís, Callan: 1998).

Legend.

"Wow" no need to say anymore. Absolutely fantastic player.

Clareman

Thread cleaned up of bickering and "joke", it's Saturday night folks, lets be civil

STIG83

Really? Thought he said he would commit for another year?

dastardly00

STIG83 wrote: »

Really? Thought he said he would commit for another year?

Nah he didn't. A story appeared in the media stating that Noel said he would play for another year during an interview with Michael Ó Muircheartaigh before Christmas, but what he said was misinterpreted.

THE LINK WALSH

One of the best backs in the Country over the past 13 Years or so and all this while working 14 and 15 Hours per day farming at the same time,a farmer has a tough time trying to compete on the hurling field at inter County level,most of their opponents have handy jobs that dont tire them out,they can usually mind themselves on the Week of a match too,Noel never had this luxury,it makes his achievements all the more remarkable.

Thanks Noel,you never let us down.

THE LINK WALSH

THE LINK WALSH wrote: »

One of the best backs in the Country over the past 13 Years or so and all this while working 14 and 15 Hours per day farming at the same time,a farmer has a tough time trying to compete on the hurling field at inter County level,most of their opponents have handy jobs that dont tire them out,they can usually mind themselves on the Week of a match too,Noel never had this luxury,it makes his achievements all the more remarkable.

Thanks Noel,you never let us down.

Thats true. The cows dont give a b*llocks if your going for another all ireland medal they have to be milked

randd1

Deleted User wrote: »

Thats true. The cows dont give a b*llocks if your going for another all ireland medal they have to be milked

Funny story about Hickey.

I was reading the Waterford book, The Agony and The Ecstasy, there a while back (a great read truth be told, it explains why Waterford never won the AI and is a must for any hurling fan).

The night before the 2008 AI final, the Waterford lads were busy signing autographs in the thousands and soaking up the build up.

What was Noel Hickey doing? Supposedly, according to the book, he was down in Piltown getting hay for the farm off of a relative.

Some way to spend you evening preparing for an AI final.

Jimmy Iovine

randd1 wrote: »

Funny story about Hickey.

I was reading the Waterford book, The Agony and The Ecstasy, there a while back (a great read truth be told, it explains why Waterford never won the AI and is a must for any hurling fan).

The night before the 2008 AI final, the Waterford lads were busy signing autographs in the thousands and soaking up the build up.

What was Noel Hickey doing? Supposedly, according to the book, he was down in Piltown getting hay for the farm off of a relative.

Some way to spend you evening preparing for an AI final.

Probably did him the world of good. Last thing I'd want to be doing is nothing the night before an All-Ireland. I'd be thinking up some crazy ways that I could **** things up on the pitch.

Amprodude

randd1 wrote: »

And to come back the way he did after the heart problem as well was inspirational.

A fantastic player and sad to see him leave. A true hurling man.

I wasn't aware of this. What was wrong with his heart? I heard there was a good player from Kilkenny who had a problem with his heart and had to stop playing for a while. Was that Noel Hickey?

Jimmy Iovine

Amprodude wrote: »

I wasn't aware of this. What was wrong with his heart? I heard there was a good player from Kilkenny who had a problem with his heart and had to stop playing for a while. Was that Noel Hickey?

Hickey, when available, qualifies as an automatic selection in a domain where few enjoy such certainty. Indeed, some within the county still ruminate upon the impact his absence in 2005 maybe had on the course of history.

The day Kilkenny leaked five goals in their All-Ireland semi-final against Galway, their 'square' looked like an un-manned nightclub door. Where was the bouncer?

Hickey had been feeling unwell for a while that summer, yet was of a mind that most problems could be solved by a couple of Panadol. When he described the symptoms to his sister, Catherine, she instructed him to go to the nearest hospital. Catherine, mercifully, is a nurse.

So he was diagnosed with a virus that had attached itself to the muscle around the wall of the heart. Potentially calamitous for a sports person if undetected.

"Thank God I went," he says now of the decision to heed Catherine's advice.

Would Kilkenny be pushing for six-in-a-row had he been there? Who is to say? A damaged hamstring restricted his involvement in the latter stages of the 2007 season too, he played only two championship games in '08 and missed all of last year's campaign because of a knee injury and, subsequent, damaged AC joint in his shoulder.

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/vincent-hogan/vincent-hogan-kilkennys-little-big-man-2286591.html

Realt Dearg Sec

Amprodude wrote: »

A fantastic player and sad to see him leave. A true hurling man.

I wasn't aware of this. What was wrong with his heart? I heard there was a good player from Kilkenny who had a problem with his heart and had to stop playing for a while. Was that Noel Hickey?

Conor Phelan you're thinking of. Played rugby at a very high level too I believe. Still plays club hurling, but was advised that inter-county would be too strenuous.

randd1

randd1 wrote: »

Funny story about Hickey.

I was reading the Waterford book, The Agony and The Ecstasy, there a while back (a great read truth be told, it explains why Waterford never won the AI and is a must for any hurling fan).

The night before the 2008 AI final, the Waterford lads were busy signing autographs in the thousands and soaking up the build up.

What was Noel Hickey doing? Supposedly, according to the book, he was down in Piltown getting hay for the farm off of a relative.

Some way to spend you evening preparing for an AI final.

At that stage though it was Kilkenny's 9th appearance (probably Hickeys 7th) in a final since 1998 alone whereas Waterford by contrast had got to their first since 1963 so the public down there were in high spirits.
The difference there was the whole experience of the occasion. It was nothing new to Hickey or his Kilkenny brethren and they had found ways of coping with the build up. That said in Noel's case the farm work had to be done so it wasnt a case of switching off when he liked. In a sense its a welcome distraction the week of an All Ireland to be busy on the farm, almost isolated from the public eye.

lala88

Why does it say he only won 9 Leinster titles?

rockonollie

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

Conor Phelan you're thinking of. Played rugby at a very high level too I believe. Still plays club hurling, but was advised that inter-county would be too strenuous.

Noel Hickey also was diagnosed with a heart condition and missed most of a season.......that was the year Kilkenny first experimented with John Tennyson and JJ Delaney at full-back......it was never quite the same as Hickey.

Realt Dearg Sec

rockonollie wrote: »

Noel Hickey also was diagnosed with a heart condition and missed most of a season.......that was the year Kilkenny first experimented with John Tennyson and JJ Delaney at full-back......it was never quite the same as Hickey.

Oh yeah I realise that of course, but Phelan was a great prospect too.
At his best you never wanted anyone other than Hickey at full back. If he had to miss out, like 2005, you were dreading every ball going in.

Had a nightmare in the AI 2010 (although arguably the fall for Lar's goal wasn't his fault, even though it's the thing he gets blamed for most), but I can't remember too many other bad games. Also he was a player who people often said was past it, but he still continued to deliver. Reliable, and reliably terrifying. Great player.

rockonollie

lala88 wrote: »

Why does it say he only won 9 Leinster titles?

You're right.....Hickey won 11 Leinster titles

Tombo2001

What would be considered his 'finest hour'.....or is there any particular opponent he;d have been matched up against a number of times?

dastardly00

Tombo2001 wrote: »

What would be considered his 'finest hour'.....or is there any particular opponent he;d have been matched up against a number of times?

Maybe holding Brian Corcoran of Cork scoreless in the 2006 AI final.

Realt Dearg Sec

Tombo2001 wrote: »

What would be considered his 'finest hour'.....or is there any particular opponent he;d have been matched up against a number of times?

I'd say his finest was the 2006 final against Cork. It was the finest day for a lot of those players actually, but he had a stormer.

rockonollie

Tombo2001 wrote: »

What would be considered his 'finest hour'.....or is there any particular opponent he;d have been matched up against a number of times?

Just a few final performances that come to mind;

Holding Joe Deane to 1 point from play in 2003, Brian Corcoran scoreless in 2006 and holding Eoin Kelly to 1 goal from play in 2008

premierstone

Tombo2001 wrote: »

What would be considered his 'finest hour'.....or is there any particular opponent he;d have been matched up against a number of times?

I would nearly say he's performance in 2011 final all things cosidered.

He held Eoin Kelly (the real one) scoreless from play that day, which was a pretty impressive feat especially considering what Lar had done to him 12 months previously and Hickey was past he's best at this point.

Only really ever seen three hurlers that categorically beat him over the 70 mins, a reall old scholl no-nonsense full back who Cody knew he could rely on.

randd1

rockonollie wrote: »

Just a few final performances that come to mind;

Holding Joe Deane to 1 point from play in 2003, Brian Corcoran scoreless in 2006 and holding Eoin Kelly to 1 goal from play in 2008

Eoin Kelly didn't score a goal from play in the 08 final. He didn't score from play at all, he got his 1-9 from frees, he only got about 4/5 touches on the ball in open play that day.

rockonollie

randd1 wrote: »

Eoin Kelly didn't score a goal from play in the 08 final. He didn't score from play at all, he got his 1-9 from frees, he only got about 4/5 touches on the ball in open play that day.

My apologies......I remember Hickey dominating in that game but didn't remember Kelly's exact totals.....guess the report that I got them from was inaccurate.

hinault

A superb played at InterCounty level.

I suppose all careers have to come to a finish, that's why folk need to enjoy the great players when they're around.

I wish NH a happy retirement

rockonollie

The amazing thing.....and it's a credit to the supply of youngsters that Kilkenny continuously bring through.......Hickey's retirement means that Shefflin is the only player left from Cody's first season.......it may just have been me, but I hardly noticed they players being gone.....obviously you notice when someone like DJ calls it a career, but Cody has been able to gradually introduce players and we've hardly ever been able to notice a player missing.

longshotvalue

dastardly00 wrote: »

Maybe holding Brian Corcoran of Cork scoreless in the 2006 AI final.

He was stunning that day, and all without hitting the ball at all more than 1-2 times .

Pudders

His best day for me also was the 06 final. He was such a fine full back. A true specialist player in a specialist position. We were never the same without him than with him. I remember the day we lost and his brother lost in the minor final. A bad day for the hickeys that day but there weren't too many bad days for Noel in September.

Noel hickey, absolute legend.

STIG83

A few post have mentioned 2005, when Galway got 5 goals on KK, saying if Hickey hadn't been sick with the heart problem, he would have stopped all them goals happening? Last time I checked Galway beat KK fair and square that day, so no what ifs and buts about it.

Jimmy Iovine

STIG83 wrote: »

A few post have mentioned 2005, when Galway got 5 goals on KK, saying if Hickey hadn't been sick with the heart problem, he would have stopped all them goals happening? Last time I checked Galway beat KK fair and square that day, so no what ifs and buts about it.

Well there was only one goal in it. I can't remember the goals specifically, but he could well have stopped at least one, if not two. I don't think it's a case of him stopping all five.

randd1

Jimmy Iovine wrote: »

Well there was only one goal in it. I can't remember the goals specifically, but he could well have stopped at least one, if not two. I don't think it's a case of him stopping all five.

There may have been a goal in it, but Galway were 11 points up (I'm sure?) with 10 minutes to go, Kilkenny got to within a goal partly because of their undoubted quality and will to win dragged them back and partly because Galway were shi**ing themselves in the last 10 minutes. Had it gone on for another five minutes, Kilkenny would have caught them and won.

As it turns out, Galway held on, it was just one of those days that Galway can have against us, Hickey or no Hickey.

dzer2

randd1 wrote: »

There may have been a goal in it, but Galway were 11 points up (I'm sure?) with 10 minutes to go, Kilkenny got to within a goal partly because of their undoubted quality and will to win dragged them back and partly because Galway were shi**ing themselves in the last 10 minutes. Had it gone on for another five minutes, Kilkenny would have caught them and won.

As it turns out, Galway held on, it was just one of those days that Galway can have against us, Hickey or no Hickey.

The same day the ref sent off Kavanagh and then awarded kilkenny a free and then reversed the decision when Peter barry said to him at last we got a free, He never reffed a big game again.:D

MfMan

randd1 wrote: »

There may have been a goal in it, but Galway were 11 points up (I'm sure?) with 10 minutes to go, Kilkenny got to within a goal partly because of their undoubted quality and will to win dragged them back and partly because Galway were shi**ing themselves in the last 10 minutes. Had it gone on for another five minutes, Kilkenny would have caught them and won.

As it turns out, Galway held on, it was just one of those days that Galway can have against us, Hickey or no Hickey.

KK had it down to 3 with 3-4 minutes remaining but couldn't close the gap. Over-estimating your powers of recovery somewhat.

Good luck to Hickey, a tough man, like all KK hurlers/farmers.

dastardly00

dzer2 wrote: »

The same day the ref sent off Kavanagh and then awarded kilkenny a free and then reversed the decision when Peter barry said to him at last we got a free, He never reffed a big game again.:D

Off-topic I know, but Roche refereed the final that year, along with an AI semi-final in '06, and the Munster final and an AI semi-final in '07 AFAIK.

Tombo2001

rockonollie wrote: »

The amazing thing.....and it's a credit to the supply of youngsters that Kilkenny continuously bring through.......Hickey's retirement means that Shefflin is the only player left from Cody's first season.......it may just have been me, but I hardly noticed they players being gone.....obviously you notice when someone like DJ calls it a career, but Cody has been able to gradually introduce players and we've hardly ever been able to notice a player missing.

Its quite unusual for players in KK go far beyond 30......I can think of quite a few players that left the team earlier than I thought they would....

James Ryall would be one that springs to mind, others would be Philly Larkin, John Hoyne, Peter Barry.....not to mention Cha.

DJ and Henry are the only ones I can think of that have (or look like they will go) well beyond 30.

I cant say whether this is mostly younger players coming through all the time or older guys wanting to have a life outside the county team.....probably a bit of both.

premierstone

dzer2 wrote: »

The same day the ref sent off Kavanagh and then awarded kilkenny a free and then reversed the decision when Peter barry said to him at last we got a free, He never reffed a big game again.:D

lol Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story

Jimmy Iovine

Tombo2001 wrote: »

I cant say whether this is mostly younger players coming through all the time or older guys wanting to have a life outside the county team.....probably a bit of both.

I can only imagine it's a mix of the dedication needed all year round to play for them and then the fact that the younger players would be really pushing for a place and, in some cases, supplanting them.

rockonollie

Jimmy Iovine wrote: »

I can only imagine it's a mix of the dedication needed all year round to play for them and then the fact that the younger players would be really pushing for a place and, in some cases, supplanting them.

It's certainly the case in Kilkenny in recent years....training for walsh cup and club league in January/Feb.....right into National League in March/April......back to club league in May/June.....into the leinster championship in July.....all-ireland series in August/September......then Kilkenny finally get to have their club championships in October and November......guys like Hickey and Shefflin have been training year round for a decade now without a break.

randd1

dzer2 wrote: »

The same day the ref sent off Kavanagh and then awarded kilkenny a free and then reversed the decision when Peter barry said to him at last we got a free, He never reffed a big game again.:D

Am I right in saying you're referring to Seamus Roche? He reffed a few games after that.

But he was eventually "retired".

Allegedly, it was something he said at a refereeing conference later the following year to colleagues from Cork and Wexford who subsequently reported him to HQ that stopped him refereeing.

dastardly00

rockonollie wrote: »

It's certainly the case in Kilkenny in recent years....training for walsh cup and club league in January/Feb.....right into National League in March/April......back to club league in May/June.....into the leinster championship in July.....all-ireland series in August/September......then Kilkenny finally get to have their club championships in October and November......guys like Hickey and Shefflin have been training year round for a decade now without a break.

You could add in aswell all the weight training that players have to do during the winter 'break'. I dunno how they manage to keep doing it, both physically and mentally.

randd1

dastardly00 wrote: »

You could add in aswell all the weight training that players have to do during the winter 'break'. I dunno how they manage to keep doing it, both physically and mentally.

They do heavy training early on in the year to get very fit. Once you get very fit then all you have to do is top it up and keep fit.

They only spend about 5 hours a week (roughly 3 sessions) training as a group throughout the year, and most of that is skill work with at most two high intensity 40 minute games a week thrown in.

The physical fitness and strength conditioning training is tailored for each player individually and they are left to their own devices to do that extra 4/5 hours a week in their own time so they work around their job requirements, with the odd group session.

The management team trusts the players will do the work. If they don't they'll be found out and dropped.

davegrohl48

That's the proper approach to getting the work done Mickey Harte did similar with Tyrone Not sure if still the same

rockonollie

My fault for dragging this a little off topic.....back to the man in question.......I do wish him the best......hopefully we won't miss him too much.