John Buckley (hurler)

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = John Buckley
irish = Seán Ó Buachalla
fullname = John Buckley
placeofbirth = Blackpool
countryofbirth = Cork
dob = 2 June, 1958
dob =
height =
nickname =
county = Cork
province = Munster
club = Glen Rovers
clposition = Half-forward
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Cork
icposition = Forward
icyears = 1982-1986
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 3
icallireland = 1 (as sub)
allstars =
clupdate =
icupdate =

John Buckley (born 2 June, 1958 is a former Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers and with the Cork senior inter-county team throughout the 1980s.

Early life

John Buckley was born in Blackpool, Cork in 1958. He was educated locally at Blackpool boys’ national school before later attending the North Monastery where his hurling and football skills were developed.

Playing career

Club

Buckley played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers, as well as playing football with the Glen’s sister club, St. Nick’s. He first came to prominence at minor level in 1976 when the Blackpool club won both the county hurling and football titles. Buckley quickly joined the senior ranks, however, success was slow in coming as Glen Rovers lost four county finals in 1978, 1980, 1981 and 1988. In 1989, however, Buckley finally captured an elusive senior county championship medal. He retired from club hurling following the Glen’s defeat by Midleton in the 1991 county final.

Inter-county

By the late 1970s Buckley had joined the Cork under-21 football team. He won a Munster title with the side in 1979 following a victories over Kerry and Clare. Unfortunately, Buckley missed out on the chance to win an All-Ireland medal as Down defeated Cork in the championship decider. He later gave up football entirely to concentrate on hurling. He made his senior debut against Tipperary in the first round of the Munster championship in 1982. Following a defeat of Waterford in the provincial decider Buckley captured his first Munster medal. After a huge win Cork were completely outclassed and defeated by Kilkenny in the subsequent All-Ireland final.

In 1983 Buckley won a second provincial medal following another win over Waterford. Unfortunately, Kilkenny once again defeated Cork in the All-Ireland final for a second consecutive year. Buckley did not play in the Munster final in 1984, however, he still picked up a winners’ medal as a member of the panel. He played in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final victory over Antrim, however, he missed Cork’s All-Ireland final victory over Offaly. In spite of this he was still presented with a winners’ medal as a member of the panel.

Buckley’s last game for Cork was a National Hurling League clash with Kilkenny in 1986. He was sent off in the game and was never selected to play with his native-county again.