JACQUI Hurley was playing as well as analysing top-level sport over the course of the weekend.
As usual she chaired The Sunday Game. That included a debate on the merits of penalty shoot-outs in hurling given the events of the Munster decider.
She also took part in a basketball training session in Killarney, County Kerry[/caption]
Jacqui wasn’t the only Cork woman in attendance[/caption]
But in addition to that she squeezed in a training session with her basketball team.
The Dublin-based club headed down to Kerry where they were joined by another Corkonian who the 41-year-old was quick to hail.
Jacqui said of Irish team captain Edel Thornton: “Great to catch up with Cork’s finest!”
Jacqui herself will also be representing Ireland on the international stage in this summer’s FIMBA World Maxibasketball Championships.
She announced the exciting news in May when she was named among the Irish Over-40s women’s side.
Reposting Basketball Ireland’s Instagram story announcing the five squads that are bound for Switzerland, she added: “Long time since I played for Ireland, such a privilege to be able to do it again this summer.
“Looking forward to making more memories with a phenomenal group of women.”
Earlier this year Hurley conducted an interview with RTE where she spoke about how her passion for playing the sport hasn’t waned over the years.
That’s especially impressive considering she also still plays ladies football with Dublin giants Kilmacud Crokes.
She reflected: “I turned 41 very recently and I reckon the football will have to go. I’ll move into a coaching role in that respect.
“But the basketball is something I’d like to play into my 50s.
“There are so many former Irish internationals that I’ve known down the years, and they are still playing.
“I’d love to play on an Irish Masters team and travel with them. Someday, hopefully.”
As if that wasn’t enough of a packed playing CV with which to boast of, she also played camogie for Cork in her 20s.
In that same interview she delved into how she has to be mindful of her natural biases when covering Gaelic Games.
She laughed: “Ah no, when Cork was playing in the All-Ireland hurling final last year, I was sitting beside Anthony Daly and we almost had to be separated.
“We did have great craic, but I’m emotionally invested in the GAA, and it can be very hard to detach myself.
“But you must keep bias separate. When the Cork camogie team won down the years – I would have played with a lot of them.
“But you must keep your emotions in check on air, because you’re a broadcaster and journalist first and foremost and have a job to do.”
