During his schooling at St Kieran's College in Kilkenny, Buckley established himself as a key member of the senior hurling team.

Buckley's side trailed by five points as the game entered the final quarter; however, St Kieran's staged a magnificent comeback, hitting 1–5 without reply, including a Michael Brennan goal in the 51st minute, to claim a 2–11 to 2–8 victory.

Buckley added a second successive Leinster medal to his collection in 2011, as St Kieran's recorded a 3–7 to 0–7 victory over Castlecomer Community School.

A Thomas O'Hanrahan goal deep into stoppage time secured a 2–10 to 1–11 victory for St Kieran's and a second All-Ireland medal for Buckley.

Mullinavat, despite dominating most of the second half, could not turn their possession into enough scores and Dicksboro held out to take a 2–12 to 2–11 victory, with Buckley collecting a championship medal.

"The Cats" were made to work hard before securing a narrow 2–10 to 0–14 victory, giving Buckley an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal and the honour of lifting the cup as captain.

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 1–3 haul.

[15] Kilkenny's dominance showed no sign of abating in 2013, with Buckley winning a second successive league medal following a 2–17 to 0–20 defeat of Tipperary in the decider.

[17] Buckley subsequently secured his first Leinster SHC medal, as a dominant Kilkenny display gave "The Cats" a 0–14 to 1–9 defeat of Dublin.