It is clear that Abbie Larkin is a very talented player, with the year 2023 having been a testament to her exceptional abilities.
The 18 year old was one of the Irish national team’s youngest players called up to the FIFA World Cup Squad, and played in Australia. Following this momentous international tournament, she was included in the roster for the Nations League Window. The trajectory of her career at such a young age is astounding.
Going to the World Cup at just 18 years of age is an astonishing accomplishment, given this is only the beginning of Larkin’s time with the Women’s National Team. Larkin recounted the pomp and circumstance surrounding the tournament when Ireland walked on to the pitch.
Amazing moment 💚
When Abbie Larkin came on, this was the reaction in Ringsend 😍
A special moment for her, her family and her community 🙌#COYGIG | #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/HKAcnUiwLg— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) July 20, 2023
“It was literally like a dream coming on and I think what was it like in front of 74,000 I think? But it was amazing," she says.
"I think when people say you know like that white noise when you come on to the pitch and you can’t even hear any of the fans like I thought that was just a myth and it wasn’t really true, but it actually was.
"I could hear every girl on the pitch and I was like that’s crazy because I didn’t think I'd hear anybody because I obviously I was like they need to tell me what to do and stuff so I'm not going to hear them because of the amount of people that are in the stadium but I could which was good, I was relieved.”
She began the senior part of her career in 2021 with Dublin’s Shelbourne Football Club before moving to Shamrock Rovers in 2023, where she played until September before joining the Scottish side, Glasgow City FC on transfer deadline day.
🤝 We can confirm that Abbie Larkin has accepted a transfer deadline day offer to join Scottish WPL side Glasgow City FC
Everyone at the Club would like to thank Abbie for her contribution to Shamrock Rovers and wish her all the very best in her future career for club & country— Shamrock Rovers Women (@RoversWomen) September 14, 2023
“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind a little bit - no I think I'm doing grand actually, better than I expected. I thought my body would’ve been physically drained, it was like coming back from Australia, but I think now I'm just trying to get back into the girls thing”, says Larkin in relation to her eventful year.
Outside of the Irish Women’s National Team, Larkin has also found herself playing for Glasgow City, who by 2021, had won 14 Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) titles. Larkin signed for the side shortly after the World Cup, making for quite a significant summer.
Larkin told a pre-match media conference what influenced her decision to move to Scotland. “ I think I was just talking to my family and stuff and they were like it could be just a good move to get into playing professionally and stuff. Like obviously I took that step from Shels to Rovers which wad, I felt was a bit more professional and then yeah I thought I was just ready for the next challenge so I just kind of took it.”
It is clear that the past year has brought a variety of victories and challenges for the Irish national team. From their first ever appearance in the World Cup, to the exclusion of several top players due to injury, their biggest setback has been within their administration.
With the departure of Vera Pauw, who was the head coach of the side from 2019 to 2023, Eileen Gleeson stepped into the post on an interim basis. Gleeson was also previously coach of Glasgow City FC, has worked with Irish internationals such as Abbie Larkin and Emily Whelan, who is also with Glasgow City on multiple occasions.
Larkin spoke about how the team was adjusting to the new administration. “Yeah obviously it’s a new environment for all of the girls, I think we’re all getting used to it with the new staff and stuff - I think we’re just kind of taking it into our stride really, they’re giving us great tips, and you know they’re acting as if they’re our coaches for a while now so yeah I think we’re just really looking forward to the games.”
Playing at the Aviva was an exceptional experience for Larkin as she is a Ringsend native, herself, having grown up just ten minutes away from the pitch where the Irish women’s team made their debut last month.
Looking back on the reaction to her performance around the World Cup, there's no doubt she's sparked a new love for the game in her home place.
“I did get videos sent to me after it was crazy like I didn’t even realise there were that many people in Ringsend at that point but no it was amazing obviously the support I was getting from all the friends and families," she says.
"It was like friends that I had since I was younger and they were there like you still follow me? But yeah no it was amazing.”
Given her young age and her long list of achievements in football, Larkin has a very bright future with the Irish national team in her sights and is set to add to this with a win against Albania tomorrow evening in Tallaght Stadium.
