Irish Hockey

IRELAND captain Lynsey McVicker has withdrawn from the Northern Ireland Sports Institute as she contemplates her international future.


The Ulster-based members of the Irish training panel have in the past been involved with SINI on a regular basis and undertaken a rigorous training regime.

This involves twice weekly fitness sessions involving early morning starts and a range of other time-consuming activities.

"Some of the more senior players have been excused parts of the programme and Lynsey is one of them," explained national coach Riet Kuper today.


The Ballymoney player has been an Ireland player for 11 years and recently returned from her first 'proper' holiday for more than a decade such is the level of commitment required.

Along with Hermes striker Jenny Burke and her club mate Linda Caulfield she wasn't asked to take part in Ireland's next assignment - a seven-day warm-weather training trip to Barcelona next month.


Burke was also given 'special leave' to attend a wedding during the last European Nations' Cup tournament in 2003.

Kuper wants to keep her full compliment of established players in the mix with the next Euro showpiece scheduled for Dublin next August.

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