Dec 15,2024
Hurley's role at Crokes has evolved. From parent to parent-coach and player, to setting aside her own game and taking on a support-mentor role for the senior women's football team, as well as continuing coaching her children's teams. One thing that hasn't changed is the comfort she feels at Páirc de Burca, where it is a family affair.
Asked what makes Kilmacud Crokes special, she replies: "There are a huge amount of country influences.
"Whether it's a lot of the players or their parents are from the country, or situations like us, where you had two country parents who moved up and had children.
"It's a really lovely welcoming environment. That and, as I always flagged, you need a few country bumpkins to help you keep it on the straight and narrow," she jokes.
This may conflict with assumptions about the massive South Dublin GAA institution, that has almost 5,000 members.
Saturday's final will be the first All-Ireland for the women's side of the club, something Hurley feels is forgotten.
"People have to remember this is the first ever All-Ireland final for this club... there are a lot of really excited people who are just bursting for the opportunity to get to Croke Park and I think sometimes that is forgotten about in the madness of it all," explains Hurley.
Crokes won't be without experience on Saturday, with the likes of Lauren Magee, Ailbhe Davoren and Niamh Cotter bringing inter-county honours to the squad - Hurley hopes that will help them keep their cool against Kilkerrin-Clonberne, who are aiming for four in four.
"They only won the Dublin County Championship for the first time a couple of years ago, all of this is new road to them. Yes they've won a couple of Leinsters over the last number of years... half of it is actually trying to get them to appreciate the moment.
"I know as much as anybody, from being a player, from being involved in the media and now having a role in the backroom, All-Ireland finals are a very special thing and they don't come around very often so you have to be able to enjoy it."
Hurley believes there is value in the club championship for high-calibre players, and it will be an emotional moment regardless as to who lifts the Dolores Tyrrell Memorial Cup.
"I can only speak for the Crokes girls, but I know how hard they've chased this, I know how much it means, and if at full-time on Saturday evening they manage to get over the line, there will be a lot of tears. There will be a lot of emotion because this competition really, really means something to them."
While the debate rages on about the place of the club within a hectic calendar, there are no doubts about the benefits for Hurley in being persuaded to get the boots back on.
"I was at a fundraiser for the ladies football and I ended up sitting next to the captain of one of the teams, and she was like 'would you not come and play a bit of ball' and then suddenly I was talked into playing.
"Whoever wins on Saturday, whether it's Clonberne doing four in a row... or it's Crokes winning their first one, it will be so so meaningful to these players." - Jacqui Hurley
"I have my own friends up there that I play with, and I coach with and it's been lovely to find a whole new group of those people that I never had in my life before in Kilmacud. Before that, all of my dealings up there were through my children, so it's kind of nice that this is for me as well."
The load of parenting and work responsibilities for women can be challenging but Hurley has found exercise and sport to be an outlet, with time spent at Kilmacud a highlight.
"In the last three to five years, I have found space for myself to do things for me, I train most days now, whether it's doing like HYROX [hybrid fitness training] stuff or football, or I'm still playing basketball.
"I still need something because I'm a competitive person and this outlet is giving me that into my 40s that I maybe didn't think I was going to have anymore. It has been a really nice transition that was probably unexpected," adds Hurley about her role as maor uisce for the Crokes.
With an exceptionally busy summer of work ahead, the mother-of-two felt it was time to halt her own football ambitions.
"I'm done now. I just cannot keep doing this, just the level of commitment and everything that's required... so I've kind of stepped into a coaching capacity in the club.
"They asked me to get involved and just help out. If there's anything that I can do to help get this team across the line, whether that's just getting onto the pitch and delivering messages and helping them keep the calm heads. I'm more than open to doing that.
"I just thought it was a really cool opportunity to be able to get involved with the team, so I'll be there and doing anything that they need on the day.
"Most of the time when I'm there I have a defined role where I'm in a box or in the studio, or I have been on the sideline doing interviews... but this is like the first time in a very long time where I'm there being involved with a team."
Hurley admits she is relishing only having the game itself to think about.
"It'll be lovely to have a completely different aspect to it because I do think sometimes when you're working in the media you get totally caught up... when you're on the other side of it all you're thinking about is the game.
"There'll be no mic in hand... but you'll see me carrying plenty of water bottles trying to run up and down and keep the pace on the side of the pitch, that'll be my activity for the day."
