Cillian Buckley (born 14 July 1992) is an Irish hurler. At club level he plays with Dicksboro, while he is a former member of the Kilkenny senior hurling team.
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 3âÂÂ13 to 1âÂÂ11 defeat of Dublin Colleges. On 3 April 2010, St Kieran's faced Ardscoil RÃÂs 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 1âÂÂ5 without reply, including a Michael Brennan goal in the 51st minute, to claim a 2âÂÂ11 to 2âÂÂ8 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 3âÂÂ7 to 0âÂÂ7 victory over Castlecomer Community School. On 2 April 2011, St Kieran's renewed their rivalry with Ardscoil RÃÂs in the All-Ireland final. A Thomas O'Hanrahan goal deep into stoppage time secured a 2âÂÂ10 to 1âÂÂ11 victory for St Kieran's and a second All-Ireland medal for Buckley.
After experiencing 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 2âÂÂ12 to 2âÂÂ11 victory, with Buckley collecting a championship medal.
Buckley first played for Kilkenny in 2009 when he joined the minor side. He won his first Leinster medal that year following Kilkenny's 1âÂÂ19 to 0âÂÂ11 trouncing of Wexford in the provincial decider. 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 2âÂÂ15 to 2âÂÂ11 victory.
In 2010, Buckley was appointed captain of the Kilkenny minor team. He won a second Leinster MHC medal that year following a 1âÂÂ20 to 0âÂÂ10 trouncing of Dublin. The subsequent All-Ireland MHC decider on 5 September 2010 pitted Kilkenny against Clare. "The Cats" were made to work hard before securing a narrow 2âÂÂ10 to 0âÂÂ14 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 4âÂÂ24 to 1âÂÂ13 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 1âÂÂ10 to 0âÂÂ4, saw Clare take their second ever All-Ireland title in the grade.
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 2âÂÂ20 to 1âÂÂ14. Buckley was a regular during the subsequent league campaign, which eventually saw Kilkenny facing old rival Cork in the decider. A huge 3âÂÂ21 to 0âÂÂ16 victory gave him a first National Hurling League medal. Kilkenny were later shocked by Galway in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (SHC) decider, losing by 2âÂÂ21 to 2âÂÂ11; however, both sides subsequently met in the All-Ireland SHC 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 2âÂÂ13 to 0âÂÂ19 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 1âÂÂ3 haul. The 3âÂÂ22 to 3âÂÂ11 Kilkenny victory gave Buckley a first All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (SHC) medal.
Kilkenny's dominance showed no sign of abating in 2013, with Buckley winning a second successive league medal following a 2âÂÂ17 to 0âÂÂ20 defeat of Tipperary in the decider.
In 2014 Buckley collected his third successive league medal, as Kilkenny secured a narrow one-point 2âÂÂ25 to 1âÂÂ27 extra-time victory over Tipperary. Buckley subsequently secured his first Leinster SHC medal, as a dominant Kilkenny display gave "The Cats" a 0âÂÂ14 to 1âÂÂ9 defeat of Dublin. 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. The replay on 27 September 2014 was also a close affair. Goals from brothers Richie and John Power inspired Kilkenny to a 2âÂÂ17 to 2âÂÂ14 victory. It was Buckley's second All-Ireland SHC medal, while he was later presented with an All-Star.
Buckley won a second successive Leinster SHC medal in 2015 following a 1âÂÂ25 to 2âÂÂ15 defeat of Galway in the provincial decider. Kilkenny subsequently defeated Galway in the All-Ireland SHC final, earning Buckley his third Celtic Cross.
In August 2024, Buckley announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.