18-year-old Abbie Larkin may be the youngest member of Vera Pauw’s 23 woman squad heading to the World Cup later this month, but what she lacks for in experience she makes up for in self-belief and a vibrant radiation of positivity.
Such confidence wasn’t always a mainstay for the Dublin forward when it came to Irish camps, and even is actually more of a recent phenomenon that allowed her to further flourish for the Girls in Green.
“I think this camp has probably been the best I've played. I've came out of my shell a lot more and I've just felt more comfortable in coming in here with more confidence as well” Larkin says.
29 June 2023; Abbie Larkin is presented with her jersey by Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw during a Republic of Ireland FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 squad announcement event at O'Reilly Hall in UCD, Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Explaining that it hasn’t quite “sunk in yet” that she’ll be travelling across the globe to aid Ireland vs Australia, Canada, Nigeria in the group stages and hopefully beyond, the girl from Ringsend expressed just how much it all means.
“My mam and dad started crying as soon as I told them.”
“I started crying too, it was all just emotional, it was overwhelming, but in a good way as well.
“Some of my friends also tarted crying for me they were so proud and obviously they've been following my journey along, they've been playing alongside me as well when I was younger, and just to have that support, it's an amazing feeling.”
It has as well come with a somewhat accelerated timeline given Ireland’s yearning for more attacking options, but being the youngest player in the team is no longer phasing Larkin.
“They're all like my family, all my mams around me!” she says.
“I'm proud of myself for this achievement at such a young age I never would have thought it. I thought it probably maybe would have been down the line in a few years time, but here at 18? Mad, like it's crazy. So I’m buzzing, I can't wait!”
10 May 2023; Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw and Republic of Ireland international Abbie Larkin with the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy during a grassroots girls schools blitz, part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour in Dublin, at Irishtown Stadium in Dublin. The FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour began in February and is visiting all 32 of the tournament’s participating nations – more countries than ever before! The tour is ‘Going Beyond’ to inspire people of all ages to get excited about the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Abbie Larkin is testament to the rising standards of the WPD
10 June 2023; Shamrock Rovers players Áine O'Gorman, left, and Abbie Larkin after the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division match between Shamrock Rovers and Peamount United at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Pinning her work rate as the trait which sealed her selection the Shamrock Rovers tallys-woman believes the professionalism at club is another helping hand that bolted her on.
“[In Ireland camp] I’m coming with the likes of Katie [McCabe], Denise [O’Sullivan], a lot of girls in the WSL and the NWSL so it's just like a lot of talented players that are at such a high standard. I'm trying to come up to that and I think Rovers have actually helped me with that” she says.
“They obviously took a risk coming in, it's a new team and they've took such good players and talented players and just put them all into one.
“It’s a life lesson as well like I think we're doing well as a new team in the league. I think we're third now, but we're going to be first soon” she says with a rye smile, adding that “the training has been phenomenal like it's helped a lot of the girls grow as a player.”
“Even Áine [O'Gorman], as our captain, she's amazing and she's driving the girls on as well so yeah I think it's definitely helped us."
With her and the Irish WNT’s inaugural World Cup imminent, who knows what heights the teenager will reach next.
