WOMEN'S HOCKEY:Just a few days after Irish captain Linda Caulfield announced her retirement, coach Gene Muller has lost another of his most experienced players following Jill Orbinson's decision to end her Irish career, reports Mary Hannigan.

"The amount of commitment required to play for Ireland is huge and after nine years I felt that I was unable to give that commitment any longer," said Orbinson (29).

Orbinson, who will continue to play with Pegasus, made her senior debut against Scotland in 1998 and went on to win 139 caps.

"Jill has been a fixture in this team as our sweeper for the last nine years," said Muller. "She is a courageous and skilled player whose retirement leaves us with a big hole to fill."