Hickey adjusting to slow lane

He is the most decorated hurling full-back of all time, arguably the greatest, but for the first time since his senior debut in 2000 Noel Hickey is no longer a part of the Kilkenny set-up.

He’s gone out to pasture, literally, a farmer in his native Dunamaggin and adjusting to life in the slow lane.

“Great, doesn’t bother me one bit,” he said, “not missing it so far anyway.