Buckley taking all the challenges in his stride

2012 has already been a marquee year for Kilkenny’s Cillian Buckley, the year he made the breakthrough to senior.

Could be though that even with an All-Ireland senior final to come, a possible All-Ireland U21 final just a week later, this particular week is the marquee week in that year.

In just the 18th minute of last Sunday’s senior semi-final against Tipperary, Kilkenny midfielder Michael Rice suffered a nasty injury. In came Cillian and he gave an exhibition, a seamless transition as he and Michael Fennelly went on to dominate that sector.