Kilkenny starlet Cillian Buckley enjoying life in the battle zone

The wheel has travelled full circle for Cillian Buckley.

Having been reared as a half-back with his native Dicksboro, Buckley graduated to the half-forward line when called up to the Kilkenny minor and U21 teams from 2009 onwards.

Brian Cody came a knocking then in 2012, a midfielder he wanted. Buckley duly obliged, but was returned to defensive duty last year.

The number seven shirt he made his own, finishing the campaign with a maiden All Star award at left half-back.

Indeed, with Tommy Walsh, Brian Hogan and JJ Delaney calling time on their respective careers during the off-season, the 23-year old’s role alongside Kieran Joyce and Padraig Walsh in the Kilkenny defence, and the responsibility shouldered, is more pronounced this summer.

Mind you, he’s very much enjoying his second casting at wing-back.

“I would have played half-back when I was younger, made the transition to midfield with county set-ups,” he explains. “The way things are gone, half-back-midfield half-forward is a real battle zone. You’re wearing the number on the back but there is not much difference between the three lines. It’s turning into a fierce game of athleticism and fitness.

“It’s probably suiting me and is a place I enjoy playing.” He continued: “It wasn’t easy knock the last half-back line that was there - Tommy, Brian, and JJ made up that line and I don’t think there was anyone else needed.

“Kieran Joyce was knocking on the door for a long time. He had won an All-Ireland U21 playing in that position. Padraig Walsh, you’re not getting anything too unlike Tommy, it’s nearly a replica in a way. Things have fitted in there nicely. You get a chance to learn from the likes of Tommy and JJ and you try and reproduce a bit of it if you’re playing half-back. If we were half as successful as the boys we’d be happy.”

With Henry Shefflin, Aidan Fogarty and David Herrity also announcing their retirement over the winter, a new band of leaders was sought. Richie Hogan and TJ Reid have thus far stood tallest, according to Buckley.

“Very few players break in and once they are in, that’s it. That’s not normally the way it is. They [TJ and Richie] had a different role in 2009 and 2010 when they were trying to break in. They were the players trying to push the likes of Martin Comerford and Eddie Brennan.

“Things move on, now they have become the main players. No doubt they are the leaders, they are absolutely vital in our set-up. They took on the challenge of being out in front and taking up the gauntlet. They have learned from the lads who have gone before them and hopefully we can learn a bit from them too.”

New faces too were required in the aftermath of such a mass exodus of bodies from the panel. Step forward here Ger Aylward; the Glenmore forward striking 3-5 against Wexford in his championship debut.

“It seems to be a surprise to people, it’s no surprise to anyone around here. I’ve played with him on development squads. He was one of our main players on the 2010 minor All-Ireland team. He was probably our main forward in the 2012 All-Ireland U21 team. He has suffered a bit with injuries which might have stalled his progress slightly, but it’s no surprise that he’s there.”

Although citing 2012 as his breakthrough year in the black and amber, Buckley took a while to find his feet.

“There is a huge change between my first year on the panel and now. You are definitely more comfortable. With making mistakes comes experience. Use the days when things haven’t gone so well in the past to improve.

“You have to start somewhere. I look back on the 2012 Leinster final, that was one of my first championship games. Things all of a sudden were fairly open that day. It was as if the world had ended, but you learn that’s what sets up future success. You have to take a step back to go forward.”