Buckley first played hurling at juvenile and underage levels with Newtownshandrum.
[1] After winning the inaugural Cork U21HC title with the club in 1973, he progressed to adult level.
[2] His performances at club level also saw him line out for the Avondhu divisional team.
[3] He won his first All-Ireland MHC medal after coming on as a substitute in the 1969 final before winning a second from centre-back the following year.
[5] Buckley later spent two years with the senior team and won a National League medal in 1974.