{{Short description|Kilkenny hurler (born 1992)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox Gaelic games player | code= Hurling | sport = Hurling | image = Cillian Buckley cropped.jpg | caption = | name = Cillian Buckley | irish = Cillian Ó Buachalla | feet = 6 | inches = 0 | occupation = Biomedical engineer | county = Kilkenny | province = Leinster | club = [[Dicksboro GAA|Dicksboro]] | clyears = 2010– | clapps(points) = | clcounty = 1 | clprovince= | clallireland = | colleges = [[UCD GAA|University College Dublin]] | colyears = 2011–2015 | fitz = 0 | counties = [[Kilkenny county hurling team|Kilkenny]] | icposition = Left wing-back | icyears = 2012–2024 | icapps(points) = 56 (1–11) | icprovince = 8 | icallireland = 3 | nhl = 5 | allstars = 2 | icupdate= 23:35, 7 August 2024 | clupdate= | birth_date={{Birth date and age|1992|7|14|df=yes}} | birth_place=[[Kilkenny (city)|Kilkenny]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] }} '''Cillian Buckley''' (born 14 July 1992) is an Irish [[Hurling|hurler]]. At club level he plays with [[Dicksboro GAA|Dicksboro]], while he is a former member of the [[Kilkenny senior hurling team]].
==Playing career== ===St Kieran's College=== During his schooling at [[St Kieran's College]] in Kilkenny, Buckley established himself as a key member of the senior hurling team. In 2010 he won his first [[Leinster Colleges Senior Hurling Championship|Leinster]] medal following a 3–13 to 1–11 defeat of Dublin Colleges.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/walshs-goal-key-as-kierans-win-the-battle-of-kilkenny/27944025.html|title=Walsh's goal key as Kieran's win the battle of Kilkenny|publisher=Evening Herald|date=4 March 2010|access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref> On 3 April 2010, St Kieran's faced [[Ardscoil Rís, Limerick|Ardscoil Rís]] in the All-Ireland decider. Buckley's side trailed by five points as the game entered the final quarter; however, St Kieran's staged a magnificent comeback, hitting 1–5 without reply, including a [[Michael Brennan (hurler)|Michael Brennan]] goal in the 51st minute, to claim a 2–11 to 2–8 victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/brennans-strike-foils-ardscoil-bid-26646769.html|title=Brennan's strike foils Ardscoil bid|publisher=Irish Independent|date=4 April 2010|access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref> It was Buckley's first [[Dr Croke Cup|All-Ireland]] medal.
Buckley added a second successive Leinster medal to his collection in 2011, as St Kieran's recorded a 3–7 to 0–7 victory over Castlecomer Community School.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/power-the-driving-force-as-st-kierans-late-surge-proves-crucial-26710004.html|title=Power the driving force as St Kieran's late surge proves crucial|publisher=Irish Independent|date=3 March 2011|access-date=6 July 2015}}</ref> On 2 April 2011, St Kieran's renewed their rivalry with Ardscoil Rís in the All-Ireland final. A [[Thomas O'Hanrahan]] goal deep into stoppage time secured a 2–10 to 1–11 victory for St Kieran's and a second All-Ireland medal for Buckley.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/ohanrahan-heaps-misery-on-ardscoil-26720241.html|title=O'Hanrahan heaps misery on Ardscoil|publisher=Irish Independent|date=4 April 2011|access-date=23 June 2015}}</ref>
===Dicksboro=== After experiencing championship success in the minor and under-21 grades, Buckley subsequently joined Dicksboro's top team. In 2011 Dicksboro faced [[Mullinavat GAA|Mullinavat]] in the intermediate championship decider. "The Boro" had the better of the first half and led at the interval by six points. Mullinavat, despite dominating most of the second half, could not turn their possession into enough scores and Dicksboro held out to take a 2–12 to 2–11 victory, with Buckley collecting a [[Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship|championship]] medal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/sport/dicksboro-ride-their-luck-and-go-senior-1-2175371 |title=Dicksboro ride their luck and go senior |publisher=Kilkenny Advertiser |date=21 October 2010 |access-date=15 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708011413/http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/sport/dicksboro-ride-their-luck-and-go-senior-1-2175371 |archive-date=8 July 2015 }}</ref>
===Kilkenny=== ====Minor and under-21==== Buckley first played for Kilkenny in 2009 when he joined the minor side. He won his first [[Leinster Minor Hurling Championship|Leinster]] medal that year following Kilkenny's 1–19 to 0–11 trouncing of [[Wexford GAA|Wexford]] in the provincial decider. [[Galway GAA|Galway]] provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland MHC decider on 6 September 2009. A devastating second quarter display was pivotal in powering the Westerners to a 2–15 to 2–11 victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-10100321.html|title=Cummins inspires Galway to glory|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=7 September 2009|access-date=7 January 2015|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole}}</ref>
In 2010, Buckley was appointed [[Captain (Gaelic games)|captain]] of the Kilkenny minor team. He won a second Leinster MHC medal that year following a 1–20 to 0–10 trouncing of [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/yourview/arid-10124150.html|title=Cats sweep Dubs aside to claim minor crown|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=5 July 2010|access-date=7 January 2015|first=Paddy|last=Hickey}}</ref> The subsequent All-Ireland MHC decider on 5 September 2010 pitted Kilkenny against [[Clare GAA|Clare]]. "The Cats" were made to work hard before securing a narrow 2–10 to 0–14 victory, giving Buckley an [[All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship]] medal and the honour of lifting the cup as captain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-20129998.html|title=Kilkenny pushed to the limit|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=6 September 2010|access-date=7 January 2015|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole}}</ref>
Two years later Buckley was a key member of the Kilkenny under-21 team. He won his sole [[Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship|Leinster]] medal that year following a 4–24 to 1–13 trouncing of [[Laois GAA|Laois]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/cats-make-laois-nightmare-come-true-200509.html|title=Cats make Laois nightmare come true |publisher=Irish Examiner|date=12 July 2012|access-date=7 January 2015|first=Brendan|last=O'Brien}}</ref> Kilkenny later faced [[Clare GAA|Clare]] in the [[All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship|All-Ireland]] decider on 15 September 2012. A powerful second-half display, in which they outscored Kilkenny by 1–10 to 0–4, saw Clare take their second ever All-Ireland title in the grade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/dynamic-duo-drive-clare-to-glory-207851.html|title=Dynamic duo drive Clare to glory |publisher=Irish Examiner|date=17 September 2012|access-date=7 January 2015|first=Diarmuid|last=O'Flynn}}</ref>
====Senior==== Buckley made his senior debut for Kilkenny on 12 February 2012 in the final of the pre-season [[Walsh Cup (hurling)|Walsh Cup]]. He came on as a substitute as Kilkenny defeated [[Galway county hurling team|Galway]] to take the title by 2–20 to 1–14.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0213/1224311683878.html|title=Kilkenny leave Galway with plenty to ponder|publisher=Irish Times|date=13 February 2012|access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref> Buckley was a regular during the subsequent league campaign, which eventually saw Kilkenny facing old rival [[Cork county hurling team|Cork]] in the decider. A huge 3–21 to 0–16 victory gave him a first [[National Hurling League]] medal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/cats-smash-and-grab-193008.html|title=Cats' smash and grab|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=7 May 2012|access-date=26 November 2014|first=Diarmuid|last=O'Flynn}}</ref> Kilkenny were later shocked by Galway in the [[Leinster Senior Hurling Championship]] (SHC) decider, losing by 2–21 to 2–11; however, both sides subsequently met in the All-Ireland SHC decider on 9 September 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/2012/0708/328320-galway-kilkenny/|title=Galway land historic Leinster win|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=8 July 2012|access-date=30 September 2012}}</ref> Kilkenny had led going into the final stretch; however, [[Joe Canning]] struck a stoppage time equaliser to level the game at 2–13 to 0–19 and send the final to a replay for the first time since [[1959 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final|1959]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/canning-s-nerves-of-steel-earn-galway-another-tilt-at-the-title-1.527721|title=Canning's nerves of steel earn Galway another tilt at the title|publisher=Irish Times|date=10 September 2012|access-date=14 May 2013|first=Seán|last=Moran}}</ref> The replay took place three weeks later on 30 September 2012. Galway stunned the reigning champions with two first-half goals; however, Kilkenny's championship debutant [[Walter Walsh (hurler)|Walter Walsh]] gave a man of the match performance, claiming a 1–3 haul. The 3–22 to 3–11 Kilkenny victory gave Buckley a first [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship]] (SHC) medal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/cats-show-up-for-king-henry-s-ninth-1.1281095|title=Cats show up for King Henry's ninth|publisher=Irish Times|date=30 September 2012|access-date=14 May 2013|first=Gavin|last=Cummiskey}}</ref>
Kilkenny's dominance showed no sign of abating in 2013, with Buckley winning a second successive league medal following a 2–17 to 0–20 defeat of [[Tipperary county hurling team|Tipperary]] in the decider.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/2013/0505/390493-kilkenny-v-tipperary/|title=Cats claim 16th National League title|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=5 May 2013|access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref>
In 2014 Buckley collected his third successive league medal, as Kilkenny secured a narrow one-point 2–25 to 1–27 extra-time victory over Tipperary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/2014/0504/615218-kilkenny-v-tipperary/|title=Reid fires over winners as Kilkenny edge out Tipp|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=4 May 2014|access-date=6 December 2014}}</ref> Buckley subsequently secured his first Leinster SHC medal, as a dominant Kilkenny display gave "The Cats" a 0–14 to 1–9 defeat of [[Dublin county hurling team|Dublin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/2014/0706/628898-dublin-v-kilkenny/|title=Reid sparkles as Cats conquer Leinster|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=6 July 2014|access-date=6 December 2014}}</ref> On 7 September 2014, Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland SHC decider. In what some consider to be the greatest game of all time, the sides were level when Tipperary were awarded a controversial free. [[John O'Dwyer]] had the chance to win the game; however, his late free drifted wide resulting in a draw.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/2014/0907/642029-kilkenny-v-tipperary/|title=Kilkenny and Tipp finish level in classic final|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=8 September 2014|access-date=2 December 2014}}</ref> The replay on 27 September 2014 was also a close affair. Goals from brothers [[Richie Power (hurler born 1985)|Richie]] and [[John Power (Carrickshock hurler)|John Power]] inspired Kilkenny to a 2–17 to 2–14 victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/2014/0927/648445-kilkenny-tipperary/|title=Kilkenny too strong for Tipperary in All-Ireland final replay|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=27 September 2014|access-date=2 December 2014}}</ref> It was Buckley's second All-Ireland SHC medal, while he was later presented with an [[GAA GPA All Stars Awards|All-Star]].
Buckley won a second successive Leinster SHC medal in 2015 following a 1–25 to 2–15 defeat of Galway in the provincial decider.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/canning-wondergoal-not-enough-for-galway-against-kilkenny-685139.html|title=Canning wondergoal not enough for Galway against Kilkenny|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=6 July 2015|access-date=6 July 2015|first=Michael|last=Moynihan}}</ref> Kilkenny subsequently defeated Galway in the All-Ireland SHC final, earning Buckley his third Celtic Cross.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
In August 2024, Buckley announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rte.ie/sport/hurling/2024/0801/1462983-cillian-buckley-kilkenny-retirement/|title=Kilkenny's Cillian Buckley retires from inter-county hurling|date=1 August 2024|work=RTE Sport|accessdate=1 August 2024}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !rowspan="2"|Team !rowspan="2"|Year !colspan="3"|[[National Hurling League|National League]] !colspan="2"|[[Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|Leinster]] !colspan="2"|[[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|All-Ireland]] !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Score!!Apps!!Score!!Apps!!Score!!Apps!!Score |- |rowspan="13"|[[Kilkenny county hurling team|Kilkenny]] |2012 |rowspan="13"|[[National Hurling League|Division 1]] ||4||0–0||2||0–0||3||0–2||9||0–2 |- |2013 ||2||0–2||3||0–0||1||0–0||6||0–2 |- |2014 ||7||0–2||4||0–0||3||0–0||14||0–2 |- |2015 ||5||0–2||2||0–1||2||0–1||9||0–4 |- |2016 ||6||0–2||2||0–2||3||0–1||11||0–5 |- |2017 ||6||0–6||1||0–0||2||0–0||9||0–6 |- |2018 ||8||0–5||6||0–0||1||0–0||15||0–5 |- |2019 ||0||0–0||1||0–0||3||0–0||4||0–0 |- |2020 ||2||0–0||2||0–0||1||0–1||5||0–1 |- |2021 ||4||0–1||2||0–1||1||0–0||7||0–2 |- |2022 ||5||1–4||2||0–1||0||0–0||7||1–5 |- |2023 ||4||0–1||6||1–1||2||0–0||12||1–2 |- |2024 ||3||0–1||1||0–0||0||0–0||4||0–1 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !56!!1–26!!34!!1–6!!22!!0–5!!112!!2–37 |}
==Honours== ;St Kieran's College * [[Dr Croke Cup|All-Ireland Colleges Senior Hurling Championship]] (2): [[2010 Croke Cup|2010]], [[2011 Croke Cup|2011]] * [[Leinster Colleges Senior Hurling Championship]] (2): 2010, 2011
;Dicksboro * [[Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship]] (1): [[2017 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship|2017]] * [[Leinster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship]] (1): [[2010–11 All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Championship#Leinster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship|2010]] * [[Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship]] (1): 2010 * Kilkenny Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2009 * Kilkenny Minor Hurling Championship (2): 2009, 2010
;Kilkenny * [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship]] (3): [[2012 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|2012]], [[2014 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|2014]], [[2015 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|2015]] * [[Leinster Senior Hurling Championship]] (8): [[2014 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|2014]], [[2015 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|2015]], [[2016 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|2016]], [[2020 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|2020]], [[2021 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|2021]], [[2022 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|2022]], [[2023 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|2023]], [[2024 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|2024]] * [[National Hurling League]] (5): [[2012 National Hurling League|2012]], [[2013 National Hurling League|2013]], [[2014 National Hurling League|2014]], [[2018 National Hurling League|2018]] ([[Captain (Gaelic games)|c]]), [[2021 National Hurling League|2021]] * [[Walsh Cup (hurling)|Walsh Cup]] (3): [[2012 Walsh Cup|2012]], [[2014 Walsh Cup|2014]], [[2017 Walsh Cup|2017]] * [[Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship]] (1): [[2012 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship#Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship|2012]] * [[All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship]] (1): [[2010 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship|2010]] ([[Captain (Gaelic games)|c]]) * [[Leinster Minor Hurling Championship]] (2) [[2009 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship#Leinster Minor Hurling Championship|2009]], [[2010 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship#Leinster Minor Hurling Championship|2010]] ([[Captain (Gaelic games)|c]])
;Awards * [[GAA GPA All Stars Awards|GAA-GPA All-Star]] (2): 2014, 2015
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *[http://www.kilkennygaa.ie/page/Cillian%20Buckley2014 Cillian Buckley profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707035103/http://www.kilkennygaa.ie/page/Cillian%20Buckley2014 |date=7 July 2015 }} at the Kilkenny GAA website
{{Navboxes |title=Cillian Buckley navigation boxes |bg= |fg= |list1= {{s-start}} {{s-sports}} {{succession box | before=[[Canice Maher]] | title=[[List of Kilkenny minor hurling team captains|Kilkenny minor hurling team captain]] | years=2010 | after= }} {{succession box | before=[[Mark Bergin]] | title=[[List of Kilkenny senior hurling team captains|Kilkenny senior hurling team captain]] | years=2018 | after=[[T. J. Reid]] }} {{s-ach|ach}} {{succession box | before=[[Richie Cummins]] | title=[[All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship|All-Ireland MHC]]<br>winning [[Captain (Gaelic games)|captain]] | years=[[2010 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship|2010]] | after=[[Shane Moloney]] }} {{s-end}} {{Kilkenny Minor Hurling Team 2009}} {{Kilkenny Minor Hurling Team 2010}} {{Kilkenny Under-21 Hurling Team 2012}} {{Kilkenny Hurling Team 2012}} {{Kilkenny Hurling Team 2014}} {{Kilkenny Hurling Team 2015}} {{Kilkenny Hurling Team 2016}} {{Kilkenny Hurling Team 2019}} {{Kilkenny Hurling Team 2022}} {{Kilkenny Hurling Team 2023}} {{2014 Hurling All Stars}} {{2015 Hurling All Stars}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buckley, Cillian}} [[Category:1992 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship winners]] [[Category:All Stars Awards winners (hurling)]] [[Category:Dicksboro hurlers]] [[Category:Hurling backs]] [[Category:Kilkenny inter-county hurlers]] [[Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen]]