Buckley plays his club hurling with his local Drom & Inch club and has enjoyed some success. He won a mid-Tipperary senior hurling title in 2006, 2008 and 2009.
Buckley also was on the victorious Drom & Inch team that won the club's first Dan Breen.[citation needed]
Inter-county
Buckley first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Tipperary under-21 hurling team in 2003. That year he won a Munster title in that grade at corner-back, however, further success at All-Ireland level eluded him. Buckley later progressed onto the county’s senior panel. He mad ehis competitive debut in the 2005 National Hurling League, however, his championship debut came two years later in 2007 against Limerick. A three-game saga saw Limerick emerge victorious as Tipp endured an unhappy season. A change of manage rin 2008 saw Buckley taste his first major success as Tipp captured the National League title for the first time since 2001.
