Cillian Buckley

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

Born in Kilkenny, Buckley first played competitive hurling during his schooling at St. Kieran's College. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he first linked up with the Kilkenny minor team before later joining the under-21 side. He made his senior debut during the 2012 league. Buckley immediately became a regular member of the starting fifteen and has won three All-Ireland medals, two Leinster medals and three National Hurling League medals.

At club level Buckley is a one-time championship medallist in the intermediate grade with Dicksboro.

Colleges

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 medal following a 3-13 to 1-11 defeat of Dublin Colleges. On 3 April 2010 St. Kieran's faced 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 goal in the 51st minute, to claim a 2-11 to 2-8 victory. It was Buckley's first 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. 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.

Club

After enjoying championship success in the minor and under-21 grades, Buckley subsequently joined Dicksboro's top team. In 2011 Dicksboro faced 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 championship medal.

Minor and under-21

Buckley first played for Kilkenny in 2009 when he joined the minor side. He won his first Leinster medal that year following Kilkenny's 1-19 to 0-11 trouncing of Wexford in the provincial decider. Galway provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland decider on 6 September 2009. A devastating second quarter display was pivotal in powering the Westerners to a 2-15 to 2-11 victory.

In 2010 Buckley was appointed captain of the Kilkenny minor team. He won a second Leinster medal that year following a 1-20 to 0-10 trouncing of Dublin. The subsequent All-Ireland decider on 5 September 2010 pitted Kilkenny against 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.

Two years later Buckley was a key member of the Kilkenny under-21 team. He won his sole Leinster medal that year following a 4-24 to 1-13 trouncing of Laois. Kilkenny later faced Clare in the 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.

Senior

Buckley made his senior debut for Kilkenny on 12 February 2012 in the final of the pre-season Walsh Cup. He came on as a substitute as Kilkenny defeated Galway to take the title by 2-20 to 1-14. Buckley was a regular during the subsequent league campaign which eventually saw Kilkenny faced old rivals Cork in the decider. A huge 3-21 to 0-16 victory gave him a first National Hurling League medal. Kilkenny were later shocked by Galway in the Leinster decider, losing by 2–21 to 2–11, however, both sides subsequently met in the All-Ireland decider on 9 September 2012. 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. 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 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 medal.

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 in the decider.

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. Buckley subsequently secured his first Leinster medal, as a dominant Kilkenny display gave "The Cats" a 0–14 to 1–9 defeat of Dublin. On 7 September 2014 Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland 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. The replay on 27 September 2014 was also a close affair. Goals from brothers Richie and John Power inspired Kilkenny to a 2–17 to 2–14 victory. It was Buckley's second All-Ireland medal, while he was later presented with an All-Star.

Buckley won a second successive Leinster medal in 2015 following a 1-25 to 2-15 defeat of Galway in the provincial decider.

Kilkenny subsequently defeated Galway in the All-Ireland final, earning Cillian his third Celtic Cross.

Team

• All-Ireland Colleges Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2010, 2011
• Leinster Colleges Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2010, 2011

• Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship (1): 2010
• Kilkenny Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2009
• Kilkenny Minor Hurling Championship (2): 2009, 2010

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (3): 2012, 2014, 2015
• Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (3) 2014, 2015, 2016
• National Hurling League (3): 2012, 2013, 2014
• Walsh Cup (1): 2012
• Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2012
• All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship (1): 2010 (c)
• Leinster Minor Hurling Championship (2) 2009, 2010 (c)

Individual

• GAA-GPA All-Star (2): 2014,2015