*James Hickey. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CRATLOE’s James Hickey has joined the management of the Carlow senior hurlers.
Hickey is in his second season as manager of the Kilmallock senior hurlers, guiding them to automatic qualification to the Limerick SHC semi-finals after recording five wins in succession.
Last season, he was part of the management with his native Cratloe, serving as coach for John O’Gorman’s final season, the South Clare side exiting in the group stage following losses to Kilmaley and Ballyea.
He joins Pat Bennett’s management in Carlow alongside Noel Mackey who is coach to Hickey’s Balbec outfit. Hickey succeeded ex Waterford manager Peter Queally in charge of Kilmallock with Mackey part of Queally’s backroom team when he was over the Déise.
Waterford native Bennett was appointed Carlow management last November, he is the father of Déise hurlers Stephen, Shane and Kieran.
Both Hickey and Mackey enter the fold following Shane Briggs’ departure to link up with new Waterford manager Stephen Molumphy.
Formerly part of the backroom team with the Wexford, Waterford and Antrim hurlers when managed by Davy Fitzgerald, the Carlow role is the most high-profile inter-county role of Hickey’s coaching career. Nicknamed ‘Bomber’, he would have worked alongside Bennett in the Fitzgerald set-ups.
