Ursula Jacob

Ursula Jacob is a camogie player, winner of All Star awards in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014. All-Ireland Senior medals in 2007,^[1] 2010^[2] 2011 and 2012,^[3][4] in 2011 she scored a dramatic 52nd-minute goal which changed the course of the All Ireland final and secured victory for Wexford. She was player of the match in Wexford's semi-final victory over Cork and a member of the Team of the Championship for 2011. With a total of 3–54 she was the highest scoring player in the Senior Championship of 2011.

Family background

Ursula is sister of substitute goalkeeper, Helena, and of Wexford hurlers Michael and Rory. Their father, Mick, was the county's first hurling All Star in 1972, while their mother, Breda (née McClean), played with Wexford in the All Ireland Junior camogie final of 1972 against Galway. Ursula started playing with the Wexford senior team at the age of 15.^[5][6]

2011 Final

Ursula captained the Wexford team in 2011. Eight out of 14 journalists at the final described her goal as among the best in the history of the game.^[7] TV analyst and three times All Ireland medalist Therese O'Callaghan described it as "a dream goal, as good a goal as you are likely to see." Former Galway hurling manager Cyril Farrell said during the course of his TV match commentary:

"That's as good a goal as you will see anywhere, a beautiful cross field ball from Josie Dwyer, fantastic catch, back towards the goal, turn on the left, bang in to the back of the net. You won't see better than that anywhere. Everything is just on precision, on the dot. Catches it, turns left handed, bang to the back of the net, brilliant score."

Galway manager Noel Finn said: "The goal came against the run of play. It was a sucker punch that late, they got their dander up. They were winning the breaks and when you’re on the back foot it is very hard to try and push on.^[8]

2012 Final

Ursula made a big difference to the scoreline against Cork scoring an amazing 2 Goals and 7 Points. Ursula was awarded Player of the match live on The Sunday Game Live whilst in their selected hotel, she was awarded with a beautiful glass ornament. Jacob's second goal in the final was an absolute cracker which she stated as a "fluke", she chipped the ball from far outside the Box and amazingly it landed in the back of the net, and commentator's on RTÉ could not believe what they had just seen classing it as "goal of the year". Ursula had really been a hero that day, and a hero the year before scoring the goal which levelled the game against Galway the previous year.

Other awards

National Camogie League medals in 2009, 2010 and 2011; in 2010. She was an All Star nominee in 2005,^[9] 2007,^[10] 2008;^[11] Leinster Under-14 1999; Leinster Under-16 2000; All-Ireland Junior Colleges with Coláiste Bríde 2000; All-Ireland Senior Colleges with Coláiste Bríde 2003, 2004 (captain); Leinster Senior Colleges with Coláiste Bríde 1999, 2003, 2004 (captain); represented Ireland in second level Compromise Rules v. Scotland 2004; All-Ireland Colleges All Star 2004; Club Senior 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009; Leinster Club Senior 2009; Leinster Senior 2004; All-Ireland Freshers with WIT; Ashbourne Cup 2009, 2010 (captain); Ashbourne All Star 2009, 2010, 2011; two All-Ireland Féile na nGael 1998, 1999; All Ireland club sevens 2006, All Ireland Senior Club Title 2012.

Protocol Precedent

The Irish Independent noted in their 2011 after match commentary:^[12]

"After lining up to greet the Taoiseach, the Wexford team, led by captain and eventual match-changer Ursula Jacob, turned left and came down along the line, shaking hands with all of their Galway opponents before trotting into position for the pre-match parade. It was a nice sporting gesture, surely one that would add greatly to the men's big days."

References

External links

• Camogie.ie Official Camogie Association Website
• Wexford Wexford camogie site
• Profile in Irish Times Sept 10 2011
• Profile in Irish Independent Sept 9 2011

This page was last edited on 17 January 2024, at 23:03