17 SENIOR ALL-IRELAND medals. 11 football. six camogie. And she’ll be looking to add her 18th today.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Should she captain Cork to All-Ireland senior camogie glory and take the O’Duffy Cup back from Kilkenny, Rena Buckley will officially become the most decorated player in the history of Gaelic games, male or female.
Through the years, it’s always been Briege and Rena — Briege of course being her fellow Cork dual star Briege Corkery. The duo have been stalwarts for the Rebels in both codes for as long as many can remember, lifting 17 All-Ireland titles together.
This year saw Buckley focus solely on camogie, as she opted out of the footballers’ bid for their 12th All-Ireland title in 13 years. Corkery, meanwhile, took a step away from both camps for the year.
Her club Iniscarra’s county senior camogie title win last October proved a key factor in Buckley’s dual decision. Their victory over Milford last October resulted in the 30-year-old being nominated as captain of Paudie Murray’s charges.
And before a sliotar is pucked in Croke Park today, she’s written more history — Buckley is the first player ever to captain Cork to a senior camogie and football All-Ireland final.
In 2012, she lifted the Brendan Martin cup as the footballers beat Kerry in Croke Park under Eamonn Ryan.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
The double captaincy and breaking new ground is an honour of course, but Buckley’s modesty shines through when the feat is mentioned.
“A huge honour,” she smiles.
“I played my football with Donoughmore and my camogie with Iniscarra, it’s to do with that. I’m very lucky to be with two such strong clubs and it’s down to them really and I’m very grateful for that.”
When speaking to The42 at the media day for the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland camogie championship finals day, the Cork footballers’ bid for seven-in-a-row and their 12th All-Ireland title in 13 years was well and truly alive.
On that Thursday morning in Croke Park, Buckley seemed happy with her decision to pick camogie this year.
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On an individual level, it’s been a help for the nine-time All-Star as she concentrates solely on one code. But at the end of the day, she can’t help but feel the absence of the other.
“Ah, I miss the football,” she continued. “They’re playing Mayo on Saturday and that’s a huge game. Jesus, I’d love to be part of that game and looking forward to the build up of that. But look, it is what it is.
“It is a help, just to be focusing [on the camogie]. You’re with the one team all the time, you don’t miss any sessions. You’re fully tuned in for the games, you’re not tired going into any games.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
“There’s no clashing of matches or anything like that. It is a help that way. But at the same time, you mightn’t be as fit. Football would keep you really fit.
“Erra, there’s for and against it but I’m enjoying the year so far and I’m happy so far.”
On route to the final, Cork won all four of their fixtures to finish on top of Group Two and qualify directly for the semi-final.
Their last four clash wasn’t all plain sailing however, as a frantic last-quarter rally from Galway almost denied them of their fourth All-Ireland senior final spot on the bounce.
They looked to be cruising as the second half got underway, but were then held scoreless for 28 minutes to just about overcome the challenge.
“We just kind of held on,” Buckley, who works as a physiotherapist, agrees. “Galway are an excellent team. For as long as I’m playing camogie, Galway have never had a bad team, they’re always excellent.
“They were going to have a purple patch and we’re delighted to have weathered that storm. Galway will be disappointed they didn’t get anything out of the game.
“We’re delighted to get over the line. We might have been clinging on in the end, but we’re delighted we got there.”
In the process of weathering that storm at the Gaelic Grounds, the Rebels were dealt a hammer blow as nine-time All-Star defender Gemma O’Connor was forced to the sideline through injury.
Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
A true leader at centre half-back, O’Connor limped off in the 46th minute after damaging ligaments in her knee.
Before that game, she had also been struggling with an ankle injury and subsequently, she’s been ruled out of the starting lineup for today’s showdown with Kilkenny.
“Gemma’s been a huge player for us down through the years,” Buckley says of her teammate. “She’s been an excellent player for Cork.
“She’s been a stalwart of Cork camogie over the last number of years. It’s very disappointing for Gemma not to be there. She’s certainly a loss for us.
“We’ve kind of known since the semi-final that she’s been in trouble so it won’t come as a shock to us on the day or anything like that. We’ll just have to get ourselves up and dust ourselves off and give it a go.”
And give it a go they will.
Ann Downey’s Kilkenny will be favoured to lift the O’Duffy Cup, and complete the double-double, having ended a 22-year wait for the senior crown last year and won the last two league titles.
As they broke that duck last September, the Cats also dethroned Cork and called a halt to their bid for three-in-a-row.
Many Cork players have spoken about that hurt, and how they can use it in their favour today to win back the title. But Buckley would rather focus on the 60 minutes of camogie that lies ahead.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
“It is a help when you’re going back training earlier on in the year. You do want to go one step better.
“Whichever team performs on the day, and gets as good of a performance out of themselves, and a bit of luck as well, that will seal whatever team over the line.
“It will be tough certainly. They’ve an excellent team. They have a huge panel and they’ve used a lot of players throughout the year. They’ll be hopping.”
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More history on the horizon as Buckley sets sights on leading Cork back to the top
17 SENIOR ALL-IRELAND medals. 11 football. six camogie. And she’ll be looking to add her 18th today.
Should she captain Cork to All-Ireland senior camogie glory and take the O’Duffy Cup back from Kilkenny, Rena Buckley will officially become the most decorated player in the history of Gaelic games, male or female.
Through the years, it’s always been Briege and Rena — Briege of course being her fellow Cork dual star Briege Corkery. The duo have been stalwarts for the Rebels in both codes for as long as many can remember, lifting 17 All-Ireland titles together.
This year saw Buckley focus solely on camogie, as she opted out of the footballers’ bid for their 12th All-Ireland title in 13 years. Corkery, meanwhile, took a step away from both camps for the year.
Her club Iniscarra’s county senior camogie title win last October proved a key factor in Buckley’s dual decision. Their victory over Milford last October resulted in the 30-year-old being nominated as captain of Paudie Murray’s charges.
And before a sliotar is pucked in Croke Park today, she’s written more history — Buckley is the first player ever to captain Cork to a senior camogie and football All-Ireland final.
In 2012, she lifted the Brendan Martin cup as the footballers beat Kerry in Croke Park under Eamonn Ryan.
The double captaincy and breaking new ground is an honour of course, but Buckley’s modesty shines through when the feat is mentioned.
“A huge honour,” she smiles.
“I played my football with Donoughmore and my camogie with Iniscarra, it’s to do with that. I’m very lucky to be with two such strong clubs and it’s down to them really and I’m very grateful for that.”
When speaking to The42 at the media day for the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland camogie championship finals day, the Cork footballers’ bid for seven-in-a-row and their 12th All-Ireland title in 13 years was well and truly alive.
But a two-point loss to Mayo in last weekend’s semi-final has left them without a place in the decider for the first time since 2010 and just the second time since 2004.
On that Thursday morning in Croke Park, Buckley seemed happy with her decision to pick camogie this year.
On an individual level, it’s been a help for the nine-time All-Star as she concentrates solely on one code. But at the end of the day, she can’t help but feel the absence of the other.
“Ah, I miss the football,” she continued. “They’re playing Mayo on Saturday and that’s a huge game. Jesus, I’d love to be part of that game and looking forward to the build up of that. But look, it is what it is.
“It is a help, just to be focusing [on the camogie]. You’re with the one team all the time, you don’t miss any sessions. You’re fully tuned in for the games, you’re not tired going into any games.
“There’s no clashing of matches or anything like that. It is a help that way. But at the same time, you mightn’t be as fit. Football would keep you really fit.
“Erra, there’s for and against it but I’m enjoying the year so far and I’m happy so far.”
On route to the final, Cork won all four of their fixtures to finish on top of Group Two and qualify directly for the semi-final.
Their last four clash wasn’t all plain sailing however, as a frantic last-quarter rally from Galway almost denied them of their fourth All-Ireland senior final spot on the bounce.
They looked to be cruising as the second half got underway, but were then held scoreless for 28 minutes to just about overcome the challenge.
“We just kind of held on,” Buckley, who works as a physiotherapist, agrees. “Galway are an excellent team. For as long as I’m playing camogie, Galway have never had a bad team, they’re always excellent.
“They were going to have a purple patch and we’re delighted to have weathered that storm. Galway will be disappointed they didn’t get anything out of the game.
“We’re delighted to get over the line. We might have been clinging on in the end, but we’re delighted we got there.”
In the process of weathering that storm at the Gaelic Grounds, the Rebels were dealt a hammer blow as nine-time All-Star defender Gemma O’Connor was forced to the sideline through injury.
A true leader at centre half-back, O’Connor limped off in the 46th minute after damaging ligaments in her knee.
Before that game, she had also been struggling with an ankle injury and subsequently, she’s been ruled out of the starting lineup for today’s showdown with Kilkenny.
“Gemma’s been a huge player for us down through the years,” Buckley says of her teammate. “She’s been an excellent player for Cork.
“She’s been a stalwart of Cork camogie over the last number of years. It’s very disappointing for Gemma not to be there. She’s certainly a loss for us.
“We’ve kind of known since the semi-final that she’s been in trouble so it won’t come as a shock to us on the day or anything like that. We’ll just have to get ourselves up and dust ourselves off and give it a go.”
And give it a go they will.
Ann Downey’s Kilkenny will be favoured to lift the O’Duffy Cup, and complete the double-double, having ended a 22-year wait for the senior crown last year and won the last two league titles.
As they broke that duck last September, the Cats also dethroned Cork and called a halt to their bid for three-in-a-row.
Many Cork players have spoken about that hurt, and how they can use it in their favour today to win back the title. But Buckley would rather focus on the 60 minutes of camogie that lies ahead.
“It is a help when you’re going back training earlier on in the year. You do want to go one step better.
“Whichever team performs on the day, and gets as good of a performance out of themselves, and a bit of luck as well, that will seal whatever team over the line.
“It will be tough certainly. They’ve an excellent team. They have a huge panel and they’ve used a lot of players throughout the year. They’ll be hopping.”
As will Cork, and Croke Park.
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‘When we were in the final in 2009, we didn’t think it would take us this long to get one All-Ireland’
‘Without Gemma, I would unfortunately think Kilkenny will edge it’
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