DIN JOE BUCKLEY:THE DEATH of former Cork hurler Din Joe Buckley, at the age of 90, marked the end of an era, severing the final link with the great Cork four-in-a-row team of 1941-1944 whose achievement remained unequalled until Kilkenny's success in this year's All-Ireland.
The sixth of 11 children born to Timmy and Elizabeth Buckley, Din Joe was born on March 19th, 1919, at the family home at 10 Roman Street near the North Cathedral. He attended the nearby North Monastery with whom he won a Harty Cup medal.
Playing hurling and football with Glen Rovers and St Nicks, Din Joe made it to the Cork minor panel in 1937 where among his fellow substitutes was young Christy Ring from Cloyne, who was later to join him, Jack Lynch, Jim Young and others at the Blackpool club.
Although he never won a minor All-Ireland, Din Joe tasted success upon his graduation to senior ranks with Cork, playing left half back on the 1941 team, captained by his older brother Connie, that defeated Dublin by 5-11 to 0-6.
Cork were nominated to represent Munster in that year's championship after beating Limerick when an outbreak of foot and mouth prevented Tipperary from participating. Although they later lost to Tipperary in a deferred Munster decider, further All-Ireland glory beckoned.
Lining out at centre back, Din Joe helped Cork to a 2-14 to 3-4 win over Dublin in 1942 and he was again at centre back in 1943 when Cork beat Antrim by 5-16 to 0-4 before lining out at left corner back in 1944 when Cork completed the four-in-a-row with victory over Dublin.
Although Cork were to lose out to Tipperary in Munster in 1945, they again made it to an All-Ireland final in 1946 when, with Din Joe at left corner back, they enjoyed a thrilling 7-5 to 3-8 win over Kilkenny in what is often called the greatest final ever.
That marked Din Joe's fifth All-Ireland medal and following a narrow defeat by a point to Kilkenny in the 1947 decider, Cork failed to come out of Munster in both 1948 and 1949, prompting Din Joe to retire from intercounty hurling at the age of just 30.
By then he had won seven Cork County hurling medals with the Glen and two football titles with St Nicks which, added to the eight hurling and two football won by his brother Connie and five hurling and one football won by his brother Jack, made for a unique family achievement.
Although he was relatively small by comparison to some of the hurlers of today, standing 5ft 9in tall and weighing around 12 stone, Din Joe was described as "tough as teak". He took no nonsense from opponents irrespective of their reputations, as one story shows. Din Joe joined the Army during the second World War and in 1943 he found himself pitted against Mick Mackey of Limerick in an inter-Army tournament. The two, who later became great friends, came to blows, which earned Din Joe a suspension.
It was perhaps his great friend and team-mate Christy Ring who paid him the greatest compliment. Asked if he was glad that he had joined the Glen, the Cloyne maestro replied: "I sure was - it meant I didn't have Din Joe Buckley marking me."
A bachelor, Din Joe had suffered from ill health over the past 10 years and died on October 8th at St Finbarr's Hospital. He had expressed a wish to be buried on the northside of the city and his coffin bore both the Cork and Glen Rovers colours as he was laid to rest in Kilcully.
He is survived by his brother Mick and sisters Eileen and Phil.
Din Joe Buckley: born March 19th 1919; died October 8th, 2009