WOMEN'S HOCKEY: With almost 300 senior caps between them, added to the many appearances they made for the underage international teams, Irish hockey will probably never feel quite the same again following the retirements of Arlene Boyles, Karen Humphreys and Tara Browne earlier this week.
All three admit the decision was both the easiest and most difficult of their lives. Difficult because they can't imagine not playing for Ireland again, easy because the demands of the coming 13 months - when Ireland will compete at two major tournaments - simply made it impossible for them to continue.
"My first year on the senior team," said Boyles, "I had to ask my boss for five days off - I went to him last year and asked for six weeks. I was lucky, my boss stuck by me, others would have said 'good night'.
"An Irish hockey 'person' turned around to me at the World Cup and said 'och, sure, aren't you having a ball, isn't it great you're here'. I just thought, 'get her away from me'. She was completely unaware of what I had given up, what we'd all given up, to get there. I just don't want to show up, I want to compete. If Ireland are happy with turning up, no problem - if Ireland want to win a few matches, move forward, then you have to decide as an organisation that you just aren't happy turning up. The players aren't, that's for sure.
"The players give up a phenomenal amount, no other sport would do it. Whether it's as simple or as parochial as doing it for a shirt, that's what we did, for a shirt. Walking out in a green shirt at the World Cup, goosebumps, sitting on the toilet for two hours before the game, you did it because you wanted to do it. You're a long time dead."
Boyles, too, is aware of the rumblings of discontent in some circles following the re-appointment of Riet Kuper as Irish coach, with many in Irish hockey believing it was time for a change after the World Cup.
"She may well not be everybody's cup of tea and, God knows, she's had her run-ins with players, as everyone has, but you'd be pushed to find a replacement in Ireland with the same connections or the same understanding of the game.
"What we needed was a different perspective and that is what Riet has brought to Irish hockey. She's an incredibly open woman, she will talk everything through with you and she has a wonderful understanding of the game."
Like Boyles, Browne has some mixed feelings about her retirement, but has no regrets about the sacrifices she made since 1991, since when she has had not a single holiday stretching beyond a weekend.
"A few years ago, when I wasn't really getting a look-in on the Irish scene, a friend of mine asked me 'why do you bother' and my answer was: 'if there's the slightest chance of making it, then to me it's worth it'. I wanted to play for Ireland since I was about 14 but never thought it would happen. But believe me, it was worth every minute of it, even getting up at 6.30 in the morning to go to the gym."
IRISH JUNIOR CUP - Quarter-finals: Enniscorthy v Hermes II, Scanlon Park, Kilkenny, 1.0; Wexford v Pegasus II, Newtown School, Waterford, 1.0; Our Lady's Terenure v Church of Ireland II, Our Lady's Terenure, 1.0; Clontarf v Three Rock, RCSI, 12.30.
LEINSTER LEAGUE - Division One: Genesis v Railway Union, Rathdown, 12.0; Pembroke Wanderers v Glenanne, Ballsbridge, 12.15; Hermes v Trinity, Belfield, 1.0; Old Alexandra v Loreto, Milltown, 1.15; UCD v Corinthian, Belfield, 2.30. Division Two: Old Alexandra II v Loreto II, Milltown, 2.30; Genesis II v Pembroke Wanderers II, Rathdown, 3.30; Corinthian II v Aer Lingus, Whitechurch, 4.45.
MUNSTER LEAGUE - Division One: Church of Ireland v Univ of Limerick, Garryduff, 12.0.
ULSTER LEAGUE - Section One: Pegasus v Ards, Deramore, 4.0; Ballymena v Randalstown, Ballymena, 2.30; UUJ v Ballymoney, UUJ, 2.30.
ULSTER SQUAD (for senior interprovincial tournament): J Gibson, L Feeney, S Beaney, J McDonough (all Belfast Harlequins), P Magill, H Mullan, C Redpath, K Maybin, F Ferguson, K Mills (all Pegasus), H Cathcart (Hightown), B McKeever (Ballymoney), L Forsythe, J Orbinson (both Portadown), S Parkhill (Randalstown), C Parkhill (Leicester). Coach: Graham Quincey.
