2-04 and claiming a third All-Ireland medal after the 5–15 to 1–14 victory. He ended the season by winning an eighth All-Star award while he was also selected as Hurler of the Year for the second time in his career. On 8 July 2001, Carey made his eighth appearance in a Leinster final. Lining out at full-forward he scored a goal in the 2–19 to 0–12 defeat of Wexford and collected a seventh winners' medal. Carey was ruled out of the 2002 National League after being involved in a car accident which caused him to suffer serious neck and shoulder injuries. He also went an operation to remove his appendix. Carey's career looked to be over when he was also ruled out of the Leinster Championship, however, he returned to the starting fifteen for the first time in twelve months for Kilkenny's 1–20 to 1–16 defeat of Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final. On 8 September 2002, Carey lined out at left corner-forward when Kilkenny faced Clare in the All-Ireland final. He ended the game after scoring 1-06 and claimed a fourth All-Ireland medal following the 2–20 to 0–19 victory. Carey ended the season by winning a record ninth All-Star award. On 5 May 2003, Carey won a third National League medal after scoring 1-03, including three points from frees, in Kilkenny's 5--14 to 5–13 defeat of Tipperary in the final. The departure of Charlie Carter from the team at the start of the Leinster Championship saw Carey assume the captaincy of the team for the second time in his career. On 6 July 2003, he won his ninth Leinster Championship medal - his eighth on the field of play - after scoring three points in the 2–23 to 2–12 defeat of Wexford in the final. On 7 September 2003, Carey captained Kilkenny to an All-Ireland final appearance against Cork, however, on the morning of the game details of his recent marital breakdown made the front page of a national newspaper. The notion that the marriage of an amateur sportsman should be held up for public scrutiny shocked many. Carey was held scoreless from right corner-forward but the 1–14 to 1–11 victory allowed him to collect a fifth All-Ireland medal while he also had the honour of lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup as captain. On 12 September 2004, Carey made his ninth All-Ireland final appearance when he lined out at left