Séamus Hickey (born 2 October 1987) is an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Murroe-Boher from 2005 to 2019 and is now a member of the Croagh-Kilfinny club. Hickey was a member of the Limerick senior inter-county team from 2006 until 2018.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Séamus Ó hÍcí | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Left corner-back | ||
| Born |
2 October 1987 Boher, County Limerick, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Occupation | Research projects coordinator | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
|
Murroe-Boher 2005-2019 Croagh-Kilfinny 2020-present | |||
| Club titles | |||
| Limerick titles | 0 | ||
| Colleges(s) | |||
| Years | College | ||
2006-2011 | University of Limerick | ||
| College titles | |||
| Fitzgibbon titles | 1 | ||
| Inter-county(ies)* | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
2006-2018 | Limerick | 44 (0-08) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Munster titles | 1 | ||
| All-Irelands | 1 | ||
| NHL | 0 | ||
| All Stars | 1 | ||
| *Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 01:48, 20 August 2018. | |||
Playing career
editCollege
editHickey first came to prominence as a hurler with St. Flannan's College in Ennis, County Clare. 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.[2][3] On 2 May 2005, Hickey won an All-Ireland medal after a 2-15 to 2-12 defeat of St. Kieran's College from Kilkenny in the final at Semple Stadium.[4]
University
editDuring his studies at the University of Limerick, Hickey immediately became involved with the university's hurling team stating: "My induction day as a fresher, they were going looking at lecture halls and timetables. I went straight for the GAA office and asked when the Fitzgibbon trials were on! I saw it as an extension of school hurling and representing where you go. For me, I thought it was natural while developing as a hurler."[5] After losing the 2009 Fitzgibbon Cup final at left wing-back to University College Cork in 2009, Hickey was moved to the full-back line with Michael "Brick" Walsh and Paddy Stapleton for UL's 1-17 to 2-11 defeat of the Limerick Institute of Technology in the final on 26 February 2011.[6][7]
Club
editHickey joined the Murroe-Boher club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels.[8] He played for the club's Junior B team for the first time at the age of fifteen, before becoming centre-back the following year. Hickey made his first senior appearance at the age of seventeen, marking Brian Geary in a championship game against Monaleen.
Hickey also played Gaelic football with the Monaleen senior team. 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.[10]
On 15 January 2020, it was announced that Hickey had transferred from his native Murroe-Boher to Croagh-Kilfinny.[11]
In June 2021, Hickey added a County Junior medal to his silverware. 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.[12]
Inter-county
editMinor and under-21
editHickey first played for Limerick at minor level during the team's unsuccessful 2004 championship. He was eligible for the grade again the following year and, after being defeated by Cork in the Munster final, Limerick qualified for the All-Ireland final on 11 September 2005.[13] Hickey scored two points from midfield in the 3-12 to 0-17 defeat by Galway.[14]
On 7 June 2006, Hickey made his first appearance for the Limerick under-21 hurling team in an 0-11 to 0-10 defeat by Waterford in the Munster Championship.[15] It was the first of three unsuccessful seasons with the team.
Senior
editOn 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.[16] He later came on as a 62nd-minute substitute in Limerick's league final defeat by Kilkenny.[17] Hickey made his first championship appearance on 14 May 2006 in a 0-22 to 2-12 defeat by Tipperary in the Munster Championship.[18]
Hickey played in his first Munster final on 8 July 2007 in a 3-17 to 1-14 defeat by Waterford.[19] After a subsequent All-Ireland semi-final defeat of Waterford, Hickey lined out in his first All-Ireland final on 2 September 2007.[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.[21] Hickey later remarked: "I wouldn’t go OTT on it but I was a boy that day, I really was, playing with real men."[22] He ended the season by being nominated for an All-Star Award and by being named Vodafone Young Hurler of the Year.[23][24]
After two disappointing seasons, Limerick manager Justin McCarthy dropped several high-profile players from the panel in October 2009.[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.[26][27] The Limerick County Board refused to remove McCarthy and contested the league and championship with a new group of players. Hickey, who spent much of the championship season in Boston, admitted: "It was a difficult decision. My ambition since I was knee high was to wear the green and white. But I stood up for something I believed in. I had stood shoulder to shoulder with many of the great men to wear Limerick jerseys over the last 10 years and I felt the treatment we were getting and the deal we were dealt wasn’t fair."[28]
Hickey made his return to the Limerick team on 13 February 2011 in a National League defeat of Clare.[29] On 30 April 2011, he won a National League Division 2 medal after a 4-12 to 2-13 defeat of Clare in the final.[30]
On 14 July 2013, Hickey scored a point from left wing-forward in Limerick's 0-24 to 0-15 defeat of Cork in the Munster final.[31] In the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final against Clare, he was forced off injured after just 14 minutes with a knee injury. Damage to his cruciate ligament was later diagnosed.[32] Hickey returned to the Limerick team in May 2014.[33]
On 10 August 2014, Hickey was named man of the match in Limerick's 2-13 to 0-17 defeat by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final.[34][35] He ended the season by being named in the left corner-back position on the All-Star team.[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.[37][38]
On 4 December 2018, Hickey announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.[39][40]
Inter-provincial
editHickey made his first appearance for the Munster team in a 2-17 to 1-16 defeat by Connacht on 15 October 2006.[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.[42]
Career statistics
editInter-county
edit| Team | Year | National League | Munster | All-Ireland | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | ||
| Limerick | 2006 | Division 1B | 3 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-00 | 4 | 0-00 | 8 | 0-00 |
| 2007 | 4 | 0-00 | 4 | 0-00 | 3 | 0-00 | 11 | 0-00 | ||
| 2008 | 5 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-00 | 7 | 0-00 | ||
| 2009 | Division 1 | 7 | 0-03 | 2 | 0-03 | 4 | 0-03 | 13 | 0-09 | |
| 2010 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2011 | Division 2 | 7 | 0-02 | 1 | 0-00 | 3 | 0-00 | 11 | 0-02 | |
| 2012 | Division 1B | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 3 | 0-00 | 3 | 0-00 | |
| 2013 | 5 | 0-09 | 2 | 0-01 | 1 | 0-00 | 8 | 0-10 | ||
| 2014 | 0 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-01 | 2 | 0-00 | 4 | 0-01 | ||
| 2015 | 5 | 0-01 | 2 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-00 | 8 | 0-01 | ||
| 2016 | 5 | 0-01 | 1 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-00 | 7 | 0-01 | ||
| 2017 | 7 | 0-02 | 1 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-00 | 9 | 0-02 | ||
| 2018 | 5 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-00 | 8 | 0-00 | ||
| Total | 53 | 0-18 | 18 | 0-05 | 26 | 0-03 | 97 | 0-26 | ||
Inter-provincial
edit| Team | Year | Railway Cup | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Score | ||
| Munster | 2006 | 1 | 0-00 |
| 2007 | 1 | 0-00 | |
| 2008 | 2 | 0-00 | |
| 2009 | 1 | 0-00 | |
| Total | 5 | 0-00 | |
Honours
edit- St. Flannan's College
- Dr. Croke Cup (1): 2005
- Dr. Harty Cup (2): 2004, 2005
- University of Limerick
- Fitzgibbon Cup (1): 2011
- Croagh-Kilfinny
- Limerick Junior Hurling Championship (1): 2020
- Murroe-Boher
- Monaleen
- Limerick Senior Football Championship (1): 2011
- Limerick
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2018
- Munster Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2013
- National Hurling League Division 2 (1): 2011
- Munster Senior Hurling League (1): 2018
- Waterford Crystal Cup (2): 2006, 2015
- Munster
- Railway Cup (1): 2007
- Individual
- All Stars Young Hurler of the Year (1): 2007
- GAA GPA All Stars Awards (1): 2014
References
edit- ^ "Limerick call on St. Flannan's starlet". Hoganstand.com. 28 April 2006. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ "Flannan's final flourish". Irish Independent. 15 March 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ "St Flannan's claim their 21st Harty Cup". Irish Independent. 13 March 2005. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ Foley, Cliona (3 May 2005). "O'Connor's new kids on block lift gloom as Flannan's deliver". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ Brosnan, Maurice (13 February 2018). "Inside One Of The Fitzgibbon Cup's Greatest Ever Defences". balls.ie. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ "UCC taste Fitzgibbon Cup success". Irish Examiner. 17 March 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ "UL overcome local rivals to win Fitzgibbon Cup". Irish Examiner. 26 February 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ "My Club and I: Séamus Hickey - Murroe Boher". GAA website. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ McCarthy, Kieran (17 October 2011). "Collins turns the screw to deny wasteful Newcastle West". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ O'Connell, Jerome (18 October 2017). "Tobin brothers inspire Murroe-Boher to Limerick Premier IHC title in replay". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- ^ O'Connell, Jerome (15 January 2020). "Limerick All-Ireland hurling winner granted club transfer". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "Croagh-Kilfinny end 118 year wait for county honour". limerickleader.ie. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Cronin's accuracy guides Cork to 30th minor title". Irish Independent. 27 June 2005. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ Hickey, Paddy (12 September 2005). "Galway glee as goals put paid to gutsy Limerick". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ "Russell wins it for Waterford in gripping finale". Irish Examiner. 8 June 2006. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ "Sub Ryan puts Limerick out of reach". Irish Independent. 27 March 2006. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ O'Sullivan, Jim (1 May 2006). "Lethal Shefflin fires Cats to title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (15 May 2006). "Was this one of the great Championship displays?". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ Breheny, Martin (9 July 2007). "Dynamic Dan adds some extra dash for the Déise". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ "Quickfire Limerick pull off an ambush on Waterford". Irish Independent. 13 August 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ "Kilkenny handed final glory on a plate". Irish Independent. 3 September 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ Scully, Michael (13 August 2013). "A hard lesson learnt: Hickey's final shock spurring him on". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ "Hurling All Stars nominations revealed". RTÉ Sport. 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ "O'Sé brothers create history at All-Stars". Irish Examiner. 19 October 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ Kiely, Martin (30 October 2009). "McCarthy wields the axe at Limerick". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ "Four more players quit the Limerick squad". Irish Times. 2 January 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ "McCarthy dispute gets silent treatment". Irish Times. 19 January 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ Cahill, Jackie (28 April 2011). "Limerick star Hickey stands by decision to quit". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ Cahill, Jackie (14 February 2011). "Limerick step up to the plate for O'Grady". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ O'Connor, Christy (2 May 2011). "Limerick on the rise". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (15 July 2011). "Day of joy sends tremor through Treaty". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- ^ O'Connell, Jerome (20 August 2013). "Cruciate injury confirmed for Limerick's Hickey". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- ^ Kelly, John (10 May 2014). "Optimism and drive fire Hickey back in Limerick reckoning". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- ^ Browne, P. J. (11 August 2014). "Video: Seamus Hickey Gave A Heartrending Man Of The Match Interview". balls.ie. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- ^ "Seamus Hickey's emotional TV interview - 'It's raw now at the moment'". The 42. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- ^ "Here's the 2014 Allstar hurling team - 7 for Tipperary, 6 for Kilkenny, 2 for Limerick". The 42. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- ^ McGoldrick, Seán (19 August 2018). "Limerick are All Ireland hurling champions for the first time in 45 years following epic victory over Galway". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ "'To have them on the field with me afterwards, that's my ultimate moment'". The 42. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "Limerick hurling stalwart Hickey announces his inter-county retirement". The 42. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
- ^ "Seamus Hickey calls time on Limerick career". RTE Sport. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
- ^ Breheny, Martin (16 October 2006). "Cloonan impresses". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- ^ "Munster secure hurling win after football loss". Irish Examiner. 27 October 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2018.