Buckley to leave Chicago, return to Lilywhites

By Pierce O’Reilly

The Lilywhites’ prodigal son is set for a sensational return to the Leinster champions. Kildare senior footballer Niall Buckley, who has spent the last year in Chicago, has decided he wants to return to join Mick O’Dwyer’s Kildare senior football panel. Buckley will be returning to Ireland, maybe as soon as this week, according to Mike Murphy, chairman of the St. Brendan’s Club in the Windy City.

"We always knew it was only a matter of time before Niall would return home," Murphy said. "We were lucky he didn’t go home last year."

The North American football champions, who trounced all in their path last year, will now have to figure a way to retain their crown without the services of the Sarsfield midfielder.

"It’s a huge blow to us, but Niall still has a lot of county football left in him, and it’s only right he gets a fair chance to fulfill his dreams," Murphy said.

The brilliant midfielder, who returned to Chicago in January after the Christmas recess, has been training diligently with the St. Brendan’s Club.

"He’s not far away from county training standards right now," Murphy said. "Niall spent the winter months playing a lot of indoor racquetball and, to be honest, he’s not in bad shape at all."

Buckley lined out with the U.S. club recently as they defeated close rivals the Parnells in a Chicago cup game. Buckley was to the fore at midfield and kicked several exquisite points from play and frees.

Buckley’s return will delight Kildare manager O’Dwyer, who failed to find a suitable replacement for him during last year’s championship campaign. Many football followers expressed the view that Kildare would have beaten Galway in the All-Ireland semifinal last year had Buckley been available.

The former all-star, who was a major figure in the Lilywhites’ march to the All-Ireland final in 1998, said he didn’t intend to play for Kildare this year when home on holidays last Christmas. However, it now appears he has had a change of heart.

"Niall will play for the Lilywhites if they want him," Murphy said. "He still has three weeks to get in better shape before the June 3 quarterfinal with Carlow, and that’s ample time for anyone."

The St. Brendan’s chairman is adamant that the Chicago club never put any pressure on the compromise rules player to remain in the U.S. At the club’s 50th gala dinner dance in December, Buckley was honored with the senior player of the year award. Before Buckley returned after the Christmas break, the Kildare supporters club had made a last-ditch effort to persuade the former all-star to remain at home. Their best efforts fell on deaf ears.

Buckley, who at 29 is recognized as one of the best midfielders in the game, said earlier this year that he enjoyed the year-long break from the rigors of championship preparations. Murphy declined to comment on the financial reward Buckley had received by joining the club. He did say that he was looked after well. It was reported earlier in the year that a number of Cork clubs had contacted the Kildare star when he was in Ireland earlier in the year. The close link between the two counties is well documented since the departure of Cork manager Larry Tompkins and the arrival of Brain Murphy.

Speaking in January, Buckley said he was enjoying his time in Chicago. "At least in America you can have a life outside of football," he said. "It’s a bit more laid back."

Croke Park ruled last year that if Buckley were to return to play with Kildare, he would then be illegal to return and play with his adopted club in the U.S. It would now seem that his return to the Kildare panel is only a formality.