At club level he played with Dunnamaggin a member of the Kilkenny senior hurling team.
Hickey first appeared in inter-county scene as part of the Kilkenny minor team that lost the 1998 All-Ireland final to Cork.
After three years with minor side he progressed onto the under-21 team and won an All-Ireland Under-21 Championship title in his final game in the grade in 2003.
[2] Hickey was part of the Kilkenny senior hurling team during the pre-season Walsh Cup in 2004, was released from the panel shortly after but was recalled in 2007.
[4][5][6] Hickey's other honours as a substitute include a National League title and four successive Leinster Championship medals.