Hickey later captained St Lachtain's to their very first Kilkenny SHC title after a defeat of the Near South in 1961.
[2] Hickey's performances at cub level resulted in him assuming the captaincy of the Kilkenny senior hurling team.
He won a National Hurling League medal in this role after a defeat of Cork in the 1962 final.
[3] Hickey lost his place on the starting fifteen the following year but was an unused substitute when Kilkenny beat Waterford in the 1963 All-Ireland final.
Hickey's health declined after his return and he died at St. Vincent's Hospital in Athy on 12 April 2000, at the age of 66.