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.
Hickey was educated locally at St. Leonard's National School in Dunnamaggin before later attending Coláiste Éamann Rís in nearby Callan.
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.
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.
The club bounced back to reclaim their senior status in 2000, following victory in the intermediate county championship final.
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.
[17] First-round losers Clare worked their way through the qualifier system and provided the opposition, however, there was no doubt in the pundits' minds that there would be anything but a Kilkenny victory.
Henry Shefflin and D. J. Carey combined to score 2–13, while Clare's forwards missed two easy goal chances.
A remarkable 5–14 to 5–13 defeat of Tipperary, the highest aggregate score ever recorded in a league final, gave him a second winners' medal in that competition.
[19] A subsequent 2–23 to 2–12 defeat of Wexford gave Hickey a fourth successive Leinster medal, before Kilkenny qualified for another All-Ireland showdown.
Kilkenny were ahead at the break, however, Setanta Ó hAilpín scored the equalising goal for Cork after the restart.
The sides were level for much of the game, and in the final twenty minutes Cork scored nine points without reply and secured the 0–17 to 0–9 victory.
After missing Kilkenny's league triumph, he returned to championship action in time to collect a fifth Leinster medal following a 0–22 to 1–16 defeat of Wexford.
[24] Hickey had been feeling unwell for a while during the championship campaign, however, he failed to act until receiving advice from his sister who was a nurse.
[25][26] As a result, Hickey missed Kilkenny's All-Ireland semi-final against Galway, a game which saw "the Cats" concede five goals and exit the championship.
After being sidelined for a lengthy period, during which he also had laser-eye surgery, Hickey fought his way back to full fitness by the end of Kilkenny's league campaign in 2006.
[29] After playing at corner-back for some games throughout the campaign, Hickey was at his usual full-back position for the subsequent All-Ireland showdown with Cork.
The Leesiders were aiming for a third All-Ireland victory in-a-row; however, revenge was foremost in the minds of Kilkenny as it was Cork who denied their three-in-a-row bid in 2004.
A damaged hamstring restricted his involvement in the latter stages of the championship, however, Kilkenny still qualified for the All-Ireland final where, surprisingly, Limerick provided the opposition.
Kilkenny got off to a flying start with Eddie Brennan and Henry Shefflin combining to score two goals within the first ten minutes.
The Munster men got off to a great start as Kilkenny's star forward Henry Shefflin had to leave the field with an injury.
A hat-trick of goals by Lar Corbett and a fourth by Noel McGrath denied Kilkenny's drive-for-five and secured a remarkable 4–17 to 1–18 victory for Tipp.