Born in Caragh Lake, County Kerry, Lucey first played Gaelic football with Glenbeigh-Glencar before later joining the Laune Rangers club.
He won a County Championship title with divisional side Mid Kerry in 1967.
He subsequently declared for his native county and was part of the Kerry under-21 team that won the inaugural All-Ireland Under-21 Championship title in 1964.
[2] Lucey followed his brothers Noel and Jimmy onto the Kerry senior football team and was at right wing-forward for Kerry's 1965 All-Ireland final defeat by Galway., having earlier won a Munster Championship title.
[3][4][5] Lucey, like his brothers, joined the Irish Air Corps and was stationed in Baldonnel Aerodrome.