Cork U20 hurler William Buckley pictured at UPMC Nowlan Park as oneills.com, leading online sportswear retailer, with the GAA are delighted to announce the third year of their U20 GAA All-Ireland Hurling Championship sponsorship deal. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
By Cian O’Connell
Cork hurling is beginning to stir again. Two oneills.com All-Ireland U20 titles have been claimed in the last three years with another accomplished red and white panel eager to make an impact in 2024.
William Buckley is flourishing for St Finbarr’s and UCC too, but the upcoming U20 campaign brings significant excitement.
That so many emerging players have graduated from the underage ranks recently augurs well for the future. “There is a good buzz about with the underage success,” Buckley says.
“It has only really been in the last three or four years where we have been successful. So, it is very good. Hopefully it will come in senior, you can see lads kicking on, the likes of Brian Hayes, Alan Connolly, these fellas that were part of the 20 panels, Ben Cunningham, Eoin Downey too.
“These fellas have played in the underage system, they have pushed on to senior. You'd hope that a few more will come through, and that we will be competing at senior, even more.”
Ultimately, the objective is to represent Cork at the highest level. “Exactly, there is obviously a good mix on the senior panel with young and old,” Buckley replies.
“Obviously, it is hard to break into it, but it is great to have the U20s too. The more success we can have there, the more players we can have going up to senior over the next few years.”
William Buckley in oneills.com Munster U20 Hurling Championship action for Cork against Tipperary's Joe Caesar last year. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
Club wise the Barrs are relevant again in Cork. Buckley is thrilled to have occupy a leading role for the Togher outfit. “The lads around my age, we would have had great coaches involved,” Buckley says.
“Donal O'Grady and Jimmy Barry, they came in, onboard with us for U16s and minor. The likes of those fellas have given a lot back to the club, they helped us to push on to win a senior two years ago which was great.”
The links with the Barr’s past matters deeply. “Exactly, they are obviously role models around the club and around the country,” he adds. “They are great fellas. When they were involved with us they were very positive, they were great to have around. They gave an extra buzz, there was always a good buzz around training.
“You'd get people coming out to watch it when they'd see them involved. So, it was great to have them involved, and they definitely helped us break into the senior panel. You could see that when we won it and hopefully we can give it another rattle soon.”
Before then, though, Buckley wants to deliver for Cork U20s once more. An exciting oneills.com Munster Championship beckons. “We've been doing a lot of work, the gym work before the year, getting back on to the pitch at the start of the year,” he says.
“It is great, especially with the round robin, you have plenty of games. It is great to have all of these games, to build confidence.
“It really stood to us last year because we had slow starts in the championship. We eventually got going, the games stood to us. So, we are looking forward to it.”