Ireland plans for hockey's forthcoming European Nations Cup have been boosted by the decision of two senior players to return to the international game.
Hermes striker Jenny Burke quit after last winter's World Cup after accumulating 124 caps but she has been persuaded to return by coach Riet Kuper.
Karen Bateman, the Cork Harlequins captain, withdrew from international hockey in 2001 after 41 appearances because of work commitments but she too has decided to make a comeback.
The pair have been added to the squad which will travel to Barcelona, the venue for the European Nations Cup in September, for a nine-day training camp starting on Saturday.
There they will play a Test match against Scotland with training games against England and Holland before returning to Cardiff to play in the Celtic Cup.