Kilkenny had the goalden touch, says delighted Hickey

NO-ONE epitomises the steely determination and the array of skills that go into the make up of a good Kilkenny hurler more than Dunamaggin’s Noel Hickey.

Less than a year ago it looked as though his career in the black and amber jersey had come to a premature end — struck down by a viral heart infection, he was ordered away from hurling by his medical advisers, with no guarantees about a return.

Yesterday Hickey was back doing what he does best: defending stoutly in Kilkenny’s 13th National League title win, the county’s second in successive years. Hickey was never in any doubt that he would play again.

“Yes, I knew full well that the viral infection of my heart was serious at the time, but thankfully everything is now 100%,” Hickey said. “There isn’t a problem for me any more and I’m just delighted to be back playing hurling as I always knew I would.”

Rating the team’s performance against Limerick as “a very good one”, the teak tough defender was also fulsome in his praise of the Shannonsiders. Hickey said the harder the games they are involved in, the better for Kilkenny, and they couldn’t have been in a much tougher game than Limerick provided for them.

Singling out goalkeeper James McGarry for several outstanding displays, and the superb way the defence had worked as a unit, Hickey said those were in themselves tributes to Limerick, who will be nobody’s “pushover” this year.

“In the end however I suppose it was our three goals that won us this final, proving yet again that, in hurling especially, goals really do win games,” he added.

Man of the match and scorer of two of those priceless Kilkenny goals, Henry Shefflin said they cannot but be happy with the overall performance of the team on a day that wasn’t conducive to good hurling.

“For me the most pleasing thing is the way we fought, harried, blocked, and chased,” said Shefflin. “In fairness to Limerick they did the same and contributed hugely to what was a gripping final.”

Shefflin believes that despite their defeat, Limerick will also be happy with a performance that confirmed them as an emerging team. “However, let’s not forget that today is still only the league and the championship will be a big step up,” said Shefflin.

“We didn’t have any real individual stars out there, it was a team effort and a very good one at that.”

Modestly he said the two goals he scored had been set up for him and were “ones I couldn’t miss”. Of all his colleagues he was delighted most for Noel Hickey, who had defied a very serious illness to return to the team and show what he is made of.

“Noel’s presence out there today also proves that there are much more important things to life than hurling,” he added.

Finally, team manager Brian Cody said the win was one important thing but just as important was the “serious” game Limerick provided them with.

“It was intense and a real genuine game of hurling,” said Cody, insistent however that despite winning the league title, that they are still in transition and will continue to be “for a while yet”.

Then the unavoidable question — whither DJ? To the manager’s great credit he fielded it comfortably, emphasising that the panel is not closed and that there are still places for people to come on board.

While Carey himself has stated that he will see how his form is in the club championship — Young Irelands will be in action over the next two weekends — before making any decision in relation to his inter-county future, the Cats boss he is waiting to hear from him.

“To my knowledge he hasn’t made any decision about his own future with Kilkenny,” he said. “We await hearing from him.”