Rachael Kohler, Ireland's most capped Womens Hockey player (166), has announced her retirement from international hockey.
Kohler made her international debut in 1993 as an eighteen year old against England at Bisham Abbey.
From there she played in two World Cups 1994 (Dublin) and 2002 (Perth, Australia) and three European Nations Cups in 1995 (Holland), 1999 (Germany) and 2003 (Spain).
She took over the captaincy from fellow Corkonian Mary Logue in June 2001 and inspired her team to sixth place at the European Cup in Barcelona last month in which she won her final and 166th cap against the Ukraine.
National Coach Riet Kuper said, "I am very sad to lose such a fine hockey player but understand her decision. She has been an outstanding athlete to work with both as a player, a captain and as a person."
Kohler will continue playing for her club Cork Harlequins.