Having played in every grade as a hurler and Gaelic footballer, he was a left wing-back and centre-back on the college's senior hurling teams that won back-to-back Harty Cup titles in 2004 and 2005.
Hickey made his first senior appearance at the age of seventeen, marking Brian Geary in a championship game against Monaleen.
On 16 October 2011, he won a Limerick Football Championship medal after coming on as a substitute in Monaleen's 1-12 to 1-07 defeat of Newcastle West in the final.
[9] On 18 October 2017, Hickey won a Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship medal following a 1-21 to 1-15 defeat of Garryspillane in a replay of the final.
He lined out at centre back for his new club Croagh-Kilfinny, as they defeated Patrickswell in the Covid-delayed 2020 Junior A County Hurling Final.
On 26 March 2006, Hickey made his senior debut for Limerick when he came on as a substitute for Mark O'Riordan in a National League defeat of Laois at O'Moore Park.
[20] Hickey had a torrid afternoon marking man of the match Eddie Brennan who scored 1-05 from play in Kilkenny's 2-19 to 1-15 victory.
[25] Over the course of the winter, many more players, including Hickey, withdrew from the panel and refused to play while McCarthy and his management team remained in place.
[36] On 19 August 2018, Hickey was a non-playing substitute when Limerick won their first All-Ireland title in 45 years after a 3-16 to 2-18 defeat of Galway in the final.
[41] On 27 October 2007, Hickey won a Railway Cup medal following Munster's 2-22 to 2-19 defeat of Connacht in the final at Croke Park.