Clare Parkhill retires

Irish defender, Clare Parkhill, 27, today announced her retirement from the international hockey scene after earning a total of 70 senior caps in just a three year period.

Parkhill's decision comes shortly after Ireland's return from the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Parkhill wore the green jersey for the first time against Korea in 2005 and since then she has been a regular in the line-up, competing in the Europeans and the Olympic Qualifiers.

Coach Gene Muller said of the retirement "She played very well for Ireland recently and was one of our most consistent performers at the Olympic qualifier. She will be especially missed in our set pieces in which she contributed enormously.”

Parkhill retired to pursue her legal career in Manchester, and said of het time in the Irish set-up: “It has been a pleasure and a privilege to have been part of such a successful and professional organisation.

"During my hockey career I have been fortunate to experience the development of Irish hockey and given the level of expertise throughout the IHA and coaching staff I have every confidence that Ireland will continue to achieve at the highest level in the future.”