Ames vows to return for Ireland

David Ames insists his loyalty still lies with Ireland — but has yet to set a date for when he will end his self-imposed international exile.

Ames, 23, and his former Cookstown team-mate Ian Sloan — now based in England with Beeston and Loughborough respectively — have been the subject of rumours that they are considering making themselves available for Great Britain, following in the footsteps of fellow Ulster men Iain Lewers and Mark Gleghorne.

Such a move would require a three-year “wilderness” period out of the international game, back-dated to the last time they lined out to Ireland. Neither player has donned the green jersey since March’s Olympic qualifiers, and both are simply listed as “unavailable for selection” by the Irish Hockey Association. Both are absent from Andrew Meredith’s squad for the Champions Challenge I in Argentina later this month, although Sloan is currently injured.