Wexford hurler Rory Jacob retires after 14 years

Wexford hurler Rory Jacob has retired after 14 years with the county's senior panel.

The Oulart the Ballagh club man captained Wexford in 2008 and has been a member of the squad since 2002.

The 31-year-old appeared off the bench against both Westmeath and Cork in this summer’s championship - although he did not feature in the Leinster semi-final defeat to Kilkenny.

Despite an early provincial win over Westmeath, the eventual All-Ireland champions ended Wexford’s Leinster campaign before Cork ended their season outright in the qualifiers.

In 2004 he won a Leinster senior title along with his brother Michael, scoring 1-1 in the semi-final win over Kilkenny and 0-2 in the final against Offaly.

Jacob underwent surgery on his groin prior to last season and says that the increasing demands upon his body, and in terms of the hours needed to play intercounty hurling have simply become too much for him.

He released a statement through the GPA on Wednesday morning which reads;

“Today, I would like to announce my retirement from inter county hurling. It has been a hugely difficult decision to come to but I feel now is the time to finish up.

“I have been privileged to wear the purple and gold jersey for 14 seasons at senior level, I have played alongside and against some great players and journeyed all over Ireland and beyond because of the game I love.

“There are a number of people I would like to thank. Firstly I wish to thank my wife Judy for her support and sacrifice over all the years without which it all wouldn’t have been worth it.

“I thank my parents for instilling my passion for hurling and for encouraging, supporting, advising and believing in me at all times. Furthermore my gratitude goes to my two sisters who are my most loyal supporters and my brother who I have soldiered with for many a year and who taught me how to hurl and want to improve each day.

“I would also like to thank all the management teams and backroom staff on Wexford teams who I worked with since Under-14 level, all my mentors at school, colleges, provincial and club level and the many other friends and family members who I have leaned on for advice, guidance, support and coaching over the years. Finally I thank my club Oulart-The-Ballagh for giving me the platform to represent Wexford and for implanting a sense of ambition and desire to succeed in me.

“This decision has not been made overnight and is not an easy one to make but time away from home and family, the strain of training and matches on my body, the ever increasing amount of hours needed to prepare properly and the fact that my game time has decreased have all played a major role in my decision.

“Recent reports from a local media source have not surprised me but they have disappointed me and caused much hurt to my family, my fellow players involved and I. This type of situation portrays Wexford GAA in a bad light and lacks the class that should be present in all GAA circles. This is a situation that has happened to other players in the past and should not be acceptable to any proper Wexford hurling supporter.

“I am really going to miss playing with Wexford. I enjoyed every bit of it. Playing at the highest level has been exciting, rewarding and challenging. I finish with some regrets but I know that I have given it my all in every way possible and even though I don’t have much as regards silverware I am happy in the knowledge that I always endeavoured to beat the best and be the best.

“I wish the Wexford team the very best in the years to come and I look forward to becoming a supporter once again.”