Bateman decides to quit Irish panel

By Declan Colley (Irish Examiner)

IRISH hockey goalkeeper Wesley Bateman has decided to retire from international competition.

The 30-year-old Cork Harlequins player, who was an integral part of the Irish team which won the recent European Nations Cup in Rome, will not now be part of coach Dave Passmore's plans as he prepares the team for the World Cup qualifying competition in Beijing next April.

Bateman is the second player from the winning Nations Cup side to call an end to his international career, following a similar announcement last week from Gordon Elliot and he said last night that the decision was one he had made some time ago.

"I made my mind up last May when I was coming back from injury, but I have to say that being able to announce my retirement from international hockey having secured a gold medal in Rome is very special.

"The level of commitment necessary to take part in international hockey these days is really phenomenal and I have found in recent times that it has been harder to get back to full fitness after injury.

"I have always given 110% commitment, but with work and family commitments I've decided the time is right to call it a day," he said.

Bateman, who is married to the recently retired Irish ladies striker Karen O'Brien, made 40 appearances for Ireland since making his debut in 2001.

"The victory for Ireland in Rome was very much 'objective achieved' for me and I felt that there are plenty of up-and-coming goalkeepers ready to come into the Irish scene and it is only right that they get their chance," he commented.

An engineer with RSP Engineering, Bateman will now concentrate on his family and work, as well as continuing to play for Cork Harlequins.