Advertisement
Champion Again

17 All-Ireland senior medals and no sign of stopping - 'Happy and lucky and it’s a huge privilege'

Rena Buckley’s glory days with Cork keep going.

THE NUMBERS CONTINUE to amaze.

Rena Buckley with Lauren Magee and Lyndsey Davey Cork's Rena Buckley in action against Dublin on Sunday. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

When the final whistle sounded in Croke Park on Sunday, it confirmed the latest achievement in Rena Buckley’s trophy-laden career.

Cork’s victory brought her All-Ireland senior medal tally to a staggering 17 with 11 in ladies football and six in camogie, an achievement matched by her teammate Briege Corkery.

“It’s massive, it’s unreal,” admits Buckley.

“We are just really lucky with the gang we’ve kind of come along with and that both football and camogie are going pretty well in Cork.

“We are hugely happy and lucky and it’s a huge privilege.”

Are the treasure trove of medals kept safe?

“They are in the press at home,” laughs Buckley.

“They are not hanging up, they are just in a press but ah, we’ll organise them there when we hang up the boots some time.”

Buckley fell short this month in her achievement of the past two years in claiming an All-Ireland double in September.

Disconsolate after losing to Kilkenny on 11 September, rebounding to defeat Dublin on 25 September was the perfect remedy.

“We were hugely disappointed after the camogie. Then I went back football training on the Wednesday night and it was the happiest I’d been since the game the previous Sunday.

Eimear OÕSullivan dejected Dejected Cork players after their All-Ireland camogie final loss Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

“I suppose it was nice to have something else to look forward to. Two weeks ago was very disappointing so thankfully we got the right result with the football.”

The relentlessness of the Cork ladies football sides shows no signs of abating. Changes in the personnel on the pitch and now changes in the management on the sideline have not altered the sight of a Cork player collecting the Brendan Martin Cup in late September.

“There are great friendships in the group and we get on very well together,” remarks Buckley.

“We work hard during the whole year. We’ve had a bit of luck on the big days as well.

“We are just delighted with this win. Your heart would go out to Dublin, they were excellent really.

“There is huge experience in the team, even the girls that are 20, 21 – even if they hadn’t played in all the finals, they’ve been there and picked up great experience.

“We lost a few excellent players along the way as well so it’s a great achievement for this group and this management to do so well throughout the year.”

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!

Ashling Thompson questions refereeing appointment for camogie final

‘There’s no ego in this Cork team. They do everything at 100%’

Your Voice
Readers Comments
5
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.