The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Buckley: Crokes rejuvenated
DESPITE injury blighting much of 2016 so far for Johnny Buckley he will have the honour of leading Dr Crokes into battle on the same day as his father Mike and the rest of the 1991 County Championship Crokes side will be honoured on the 25th anniversary of their win over Castleisland Desmonds.
That win came as redemption in some respects for what happened in 1987 when Crokes lost out to Sunday’s opponents Kenmare District with a dramatic late goal and Buckley has familiarised himself in what happened that day.
“My father [who is also a team selector] gave a great blow by blow account of the match and it’s nice to know the history behind it. I was delighted to be given the captaincy this year.
“I think it’s something that any Kerry player should aspire to having with their clubs in terms of trying to take what you learn with Kerry onto the pitch for your club,” he feels.
He puts the disappointing 2014 and 2015 campaigns down to the effects of three All-Ireland semi-final defeats taking their toll.
“Losing those games is bound to catch up with you sometime especially with the effort that was put in by everyone during those years. In fairness to Martin [Byrnes], Finian [Moran] and the rest of the previous management team they did the best they could to try and pick us up again but it was always a difficult ask with the effects of losing those semi-finals.
“The one thing about this year is there is freshness by everyone, both the players and the management and it has brought us back into contention,” the Crokes captain said.
Big wins in the County League led many to believe that Crokes would power their way through the championship, but Buckley believes the difference between league and championship is well illustrated by Crokes’ run to the final.
“Division 1 is a great level of football, but in championship you always get less space and the games are much more tactical than the league and it’s not just simply about outscoring the opposition.
“O’Rahillys was a test of our mental strength after what happened to Giles O’Grady and we all hope he is recovering well from that injury. We got over the line when the game resumed but when it came to Dingle last Sunday we were under no illusions about the challenge they would present us and the game itself bore that out,” the Crokes captain said.
He admits that Sunday’s opponents will be a new challenge, but Buckley isn’t fooled by the small size of the district compared to some of the other divisional sides in the county.
“It seems to be a great time for football there with both Kenmare and Templenoe in Division One this year, both clubs having gone to Croke Park and also having players on the Kerry Minor teams is a great boost for them.
“We’re happy as well that our own All-Ireland minor winners are starting to make an impact on our panel,” he said.
He admits that after waiting five weeks from Kerry’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Dublin for the County Championship to resume, its conclusion feels a bit sudden. However, being there in the decider is still the most important thing.
“It’s been a bit hectic having the competition finished off so quickly like it is over the space of three weeks especially when you might need recovery time for injuries, but you’re always happy to be involved on County Final day no matter the circumstances.”