James Hickey has been there in good times and bad for Carlow side Mount Leinster Rangers.

Despite a bitter blow ahead of Mondays All Ireland club final on Saint Patrick's Day against Portumna, he’ll be front and centre in supporting his teammates once again.

Faith can be cruel and it’s been especially cruel to Hickey who misses the game after rupturing his cruciate in a challenge match in recent weeks.

Ahead of the game, the double Christy Ring cup winner seems to have made peace with missing it and says the passing away of Ted Joyce, the last serving member of Carlow’s Leinster championship winning football side in 1944, has put things in perspective.

In the Mount Leinster Rangers homely club house just outside of Borris Hickey opened up to me about missing the final, supporting his teammates and what reaching the final means.