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 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.

Korea 6 Ireland 3

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).

Ireland’s women have lost their three-match series against the USA after a 4-1 defeat in California gave the hosts an unassailable lead with one game to play.

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.

Five uncapped players have been named in the Irish women’s hockey squad to play three Test matches in the USA next month.

Ireland 4 France2

Ireland 0, England 3

Ireland2 Italy1

Ireland’s women moved, albeit briefly, to the top of Pool B at the European Nations Cup after a 2-1 win over Italy maintained their 100% record.

Ireland’s women won the battle of the Celts with a tight 1-0 victory over Wales in their opening game at the European Nations Cup in Barcelona.

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

“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.

USA 2 Ireland 1

England 3 Ireland 1

Ireland’s women discovered that form is no guarantee for success as they lost the final of the Atlantic Cup 3-2 to a last-minute golden goal by USA captain Tracey Fuchs in Virginia.

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.