Career
Born in Milford, County, Buckley first excelled at hurling in his youth. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the minor team, before later joining the under-21 side. He made his senior debut during the 1989 championship.
He was an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.
At club level Buckley played with Milford. Throughout his career Buckley made 16 championship appearances.
His retirement came following the conclusion of the 1995 championship. In retirement from playing Buckley became involved in team management and coaching.
He was a selector with the senior team under Denis Walsh and also at club level with Charleville.
Inter-county On 4 June 1989 Buckley made his senior championship debut in an 0-18 apiece semi-final draw with Waterford. In 1990 bounced back after a period in decline. Buckley was dropped from the starting fifteen for the subsequent All-Ireland final on 2 September 1990.
Galway provided the opposition and justified their favourites tag by going seven points ahead in the opening thirty-five minutes thanks to a masterful display by Joe Cooney. fought back with an equally expert display by captain Tomás Mulcahy.
The game was effectively decided on an incident which occurred midway through the second half when goalkeeper Ger Cunningham blocked a point-blank shot from Martin Naughton with his nose. The umpires gave no 65-metre free, even though he clearly deflected it out wide.
Buckley collected an All-Ireland medal as a non-playing substitute. On 6 September 1992 faced Kilkenny in the All-Ireland decider.
At half-time were two points ahead, however, two second-half goals by John Power and Michael "Titch" Phelan supplemented a first-half Doctorate. J. Carey penalty which gave Kilkenny a 3-10 to 1-12 victory.
"s hurling fortunes took a downturn over the next few years and Buckley retired from inter-county hurling following "s exit from the 1995 championship.
