Ireland vice-captain Jenny Burke has announced her retirement from international hockey.

Ireland 4 Ukraine 1

England went down to a 2-0 semi-final defeat to reigning European champions Holland in the European Nations Cup in Dublin.

IRELAND’S women’s coach Riet Kuper has backed the idea of our leading young players moving to Europe’s top leagues to further their hockey education.

TEENAGE hockey sensation Emma Stewart has been named in the final Irish squad for the European Championships in Dublin in less than two weeks time.

Ireland 2 China 5

Ireland missed out on a bronze medal at the KT Cup in South Korea after China, ranked fourth in the world, won the third-placed play-off 5-2.

IRELAND will face China, the team ranked fourth in the world, in the bronze medal match at the KT Cup in South Korea after beating Malaysia 4-0 yesterday.

Ireland will face world number four China in the bronze-medal match at the KT Cup in South Korea after beating Malaysia 4-0 today.

NIGEL BUTTIMER has announced his retirement from international hockey at the age of 28.

Ireland women’s coach Riet Kuper has omitted three experienced internationals from her training squad, which travels to Spain next month, in order to give younger players a chance.

ORLA RYAN and Pamela Orr were yesterday dropped by Irish ladies hockey coach Riet Kuper, as she announced her squad for the forthcoming Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Auckland, New Zealand from March 19 to 28.

DESPITE the fact that Cork Harlequins have beaten today’s Irish Senior Women’s Cup opponents Knock in the competition for the past two years, coach Ivan Bateman is taking nothing for granted in the third round encounter at Harlequin Park (hit off 1.30pm).

IRISH ladies hockey coach Riet Kuper has named a squad of 20 to travel to America next month as preparations intensify ahead of the Olympic qualifying tournament in Auckland from March 19-28.

Ireland 4 France2

THE Irish Hockey Association raised more than a few eyebrows at the European Championships over the weekend when it emerged that an Irish player was allowed home from the tournament on Friday to attend a wedding.

RIET KUPER remembers only too vividly Ireland ladies’ first training camp in the build up to this week’s European Championships in Barcelona.

Ireland women’s plans for the forthcoming European Nations Cup have been boosted by the decision of two senior players to return to the international game.

Ireland’s women have named the pool of players who will contest selection for September’s European Nations Cup in Barcelona.

CORK HARLEQUINS’ reign as All- Ireland club champions came to an end at Lough Moss Leisure Centre on Saturday, when they were beaten 4-2 by Ulster Senior League winners Annadale (6-3 on aggregate).

Ireland has beaten Russia 1-0 in the wooden spoon match of the Hockey finals in Perth.

Ireland must face the wooden spoon match against Russia at the women's World Cup in Perth, Australia, tomorrow after losing 4-3 to Ukraine.

“THAT was the week that was,” and one the Irish women’s World Cup hockey squad will be trying to make amends for to some small measure of degree when they resume action today against Japan in the Women’s Hockey World Cup tournament in Perth.

IRISH coach Riet Kuper was left frustrated yesterday after she witnessed her Irish hockey team played brilliantly but lose 2-1 to world champions Australia in the World Cup in Perth to remain point-less at the bottom of their pool.

Ireland's women have lost their third consecutive game in Pool A of the Hockey World Cup in Perth.

USA 2 Ireland 1

Ireland have beaten Canada 3-0 in their latest women's Hockey World Cup warm-up match.

Ireland women's hockey team began their preparations for the forthcoming World Cup in Australia with a 9-0 victory over Mexico in the Atlantic Cup.