Can you spot a young Tony Buckley in this Newmarket hurling photo from 1993, just two days after his thirteenth  birthday? Tony played hurling and football for his home club Newmarket with great success, in his younger years. His considerable frame, strength and skills put fear into many an opposition, and their mothers.
Alas, the professional option of rugby came calling. An initial spell with Connacht preceded six years with Munster, where he clocked up 96 appears as well as Heineken Cup and Magners League medals. Next in line is the English Rugby Premiership with his new club Sale Sharks.

This Sunday Tony hits another milestone with a quarter of a century of caps for Ireland, when they play Russia in the World Cup. While Newmarket would be delighted to have Tony in the squad for the Cork County Premier Intermediate Football Final, provisionally set for the 16th of October, hopefully he and Ireland will have another match that day.

Best of luck Tony!

Áth Trasna Abú – Newmarket (and Ireland) to Victory!