Cillian Buckley

Cillian Buckley

Cillian Buckley in action for Kilkenny against Galway in the 2015 National Hurling League at Pearse Stadium
Personal information
Irish nameCillian Ó Buachalla
SportHurling
PositionLeft-Half Back
Born14 July 1992
Kilkenny, Ireland
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
OccupationStudent
Club(s)
YearsClub
Dicksboro
Club titles
Kilkenny titles0
Inter-county(ies)*
YearsCountyApps (scores)
2012-Kilkenny5 (0-2)
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles1
All-Irelands2
NHL3
All Stars1
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 23:33, 5 May 2014.

Cillian Buckley (born 14 July 1992) is an Irish hurler who currently plays as a left-half back for the Kilkenny senior team.[1]

Buckley made his first appearance for the team during the 2012 National League and was subsequently included in Kilkenny's championship team. Since then he has won two All-Ireland winners' medal and three National Hurling League winners' medals.[2]

At club level Buckley is a one-time county intermediate championship with Dicksboro.

Playing career

Club

Buckley plays his club hurling with the Dicksboro club and has enjoyed much success across all grades. He began his career at minor level, winning back-to-back county championship winners' medals in 2009 and 2010.

In 2010 Buckley was just out of the minor grade when he won a county intermediate championship winners' medal following a defeat of Mullinavat.[3]

Inter-county

Buckley first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Kilkenny minor hurling team in 2009. He won a Leinster winners' medal in his debut year. Kilkenny were later defeated by Galway in the All-Ireland final.[4]

In 2010 Buckley was captain of the Kilkenny minor team for the year. He added a second Leinster winners' medal to his collection before later lining out in a second consecutive All-Ireland final. A late goal secured a 2-10 to 0-14 defeat of Clare and a coveted All-Ireland winners' medal.[5]

By 2012 Buckley had progressed onto the Kilkenny under-21 team. He picked up a Leinster medal that year following a trouncing of Laois in the provincial decider.[6] Kilkenny were later defeated by Clare in the All-Ireland decider.

Buckley made his debut for the Kilkenny senior team during the pre-season Walsh Cup tournament. He came on as a substitute in the final as Kilkenny defeated Galway to take the title.[7] In that year's subsequent National Hurling League Kilkenny lined out against Cork in the decider. Buckley was again introduced as a substitute and collected a winners' medal as 'the Cats' defeated Cork by 3-21 to 0-16.[8] He started at midfield in Kilkenny's championship opener, however, Galway shocked Kilkenny to take the Leinster title. Both sides subsequently met in the All-Ireland decider and Galway nearly pulled off a victory. A 2-13 to 0-19 draw was the result, a first drawn All-Ireland final in over half a century.[9] The replay saw Kilkenny claim a 3-22 to 3-11 victory, with Buckley picking up a first All-Ireland winners' medal.[10]

Buckley was moved to the left-half back position for 2014. He was one of the few players who consistently kept his place in the starting line-up as Brian Cody rotated the squad a lot throughout the season. Buckley was one of the driving forces behind Kilkenny's success in 2014. He picked up his first Leinster Senior Hurling Championship medal and his second All-Ireland medal. He was rewarded for his fantastic year when he claimed his first All Star Award for the left-half back position.

Honours

Team

Dicksboro
Kilkenny

References

  1. ↑ "Cillian Buckley". Breaking Through website. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  2. ↑ "County profile: Kilkenny". Hogan Stand website. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  3. ↑ "Dicksboro ride their luck and go senior". Kilkenny Advertiser. 21 October 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "RTÉ Sport: Kilkenny 2-11 Galway 2-15". RTÉ Sport. 6 September 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  5. ↑ "Kilkenny pushed to the limit". Irish Examiner. 6 September 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  6. ↑ "Cats make Laois nightmare come true". Irish Examiner. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "Kilkenny leave Galway with plenty to ponder". Irish Times. 13 February 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  8. ↑ "Cats hammer Cork in League decider". RTÉ Sport. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  9. ↑ "Galway earn replay against Kilkenny". RTÉ Sport. 11 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  10. ↑ "Imperious Kilkenny win All-Ireland at ease". RTÉ Sport. 30 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.