Abbie Larkin

Abbie Sheila Larkin (born 27 April 2005) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Glasgow City [3] and the Republic of Ireland women's national team.

Abbie Larkin
Personal information
Full name Abbie Sheila Larkin[1]
Date of birth (2005-04-27) 27 April 2005[2]
Place of birth Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Glasgow City
Number 7
Youth career
Cambridge Boys
Home Farm
Shelbourne
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Shelbourne
2023– Shamrock Rovers/Glasgow City
International career‡
2022– Republic of Ireland 11 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:09, 23 December 2022 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 August 2023

Club career

Larkin is from Ringsend and played youth football for the local team Cambridge FC.[2] At nine years old Larkin was accepted into The Metropolitan Girls League Academy two years earlier than the usual admission age of 11.[4] She also played at youth level for Home Farm, before joining Shelbourne.[5]

In May 2021, Shelbourne manager Noel King dual-signed Larkin to the club's senior panel from their Women's Under 17 National League squad.[6] She scored on her senior club debut, after entering play as an 84th-minute substitute for Saoirse Noonan in Shelbourne's 5–0 Women's National League win over Athlone Town at Tolka Park on 5 June 2021.[7][8]

In October 2021, Larkin made her first start for Shelbourne when Noelle Murray fell ill and was unable to play in a league match against Galway. Larkin was named player of the match, after scoring a goal and assisting another in Shelbourne's 2–0 win, which was televised live by TG4.[9] Shelbourne overhauled Peamount United on a dramatic final day to win the 2021 Women's National League title.[10] Larkin also played in the 2021 FAI Women's Cup Final, but Shelbourne were beaten 3–1 by Wexford Youths.[11]

Shelbourne announced that Larkin had signed for another season at the end of a successful 2022 Women's National League campaign, in which she helped the club secure a League and Cup double.[12] However they were disappointed when Larkin subsequently experienced "a change of heart" and instead moved to newly-reformed Shamrock Rovers alongside some other Shelbourne players. A controversial and swiftly-deleted tweet on the Shelbourne club account, referencing The Red Flag lyrics 'Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer', was perceived as being aimed at the departing players and attracted "huge criticism",[13] particularly given Larkin's youth.[14]

International career

Youth

Larkin represented Ireland at schoolgirl level while she attended Ringsend College.[15] She progressed to the Republic of Ireland women's national under-17 football team and served as captain in their 2022 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualification campaign.[16]

Senior

Larkin was called up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad for the first time in February 2022, for the 2022 Pinatar Cup in Murcia.[17] She required her parents' permission to miss school for the trip.[18] She won her first cap on 19 February 2022 in a 1–0 defeat by Russia[2] and appeared as a half-time substitute for Kyra Carusa in a 1–0 win over Wales.[19]

On 27 June 2022, Larkin scored her first goal for Ireland on the occasion of her fourth cap, in a 9–0 World Cup qualification win over Georgia in Gori. Coach Vera Pauw was impressed by Larkin's impact: "She's only 17-years-old, but I hope that everybody has seen how talented she is."[20]

Personal life

One of Larkin's cousins is fellow professional footballer Daniel Kelly, who plays for Dundalk.[21]

Career statistics

International appearances
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Republic of Ireland 2022 51
2023 40
Total91

International goals
Scores and results list Republic of Ireland's goals first. Score column indicates score after each Larkin goal. Updated as of 5 May 2023.
International goals scored by Abbie Larkin
No. Cap Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 4 27 June 2022Tengiz Burjanadze Stadium Gori, Georgia Georgia 8-0 9-0 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification[22]

References
  1. "FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 – Squad List: Republic Of Ireland (IRL)" (PDF). FIFA. 11 July 2023. p. 25. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  2. Duffy, Emma (18 March 2022). "The 16-year-old sensation aiming for the stars after a recent Ireland senior debut". The42.ie. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  3. O'Connor, Seán (14 September 2023). "Abbie Larkin completes move to Glasgow City on free transfer from Shamrock Rovers". independent.ie.
  4. Conneely, Rúairí (15 June 2015). "The world at their feet". News Four. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  5. Concannon, Claire (4 November 2021). "Abbie Larkin is Shelbourne's youngest player and this 16-year-old is one to watch". Evoke.ie. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  6. @shelsfc (8 May 2021). "Congrats to Shels' U17 @FAI_WNL player Abbie Larkin who has been dual signed to our senior WNL side by manager Noel King. What a bright future ahead ✊ #RedsTogether | #Since1895" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. Hooper, Dave (6 June 2021). "Shelbourne crush Athlone Town in WNL". Shannonside. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  8. "Athlone Town WFC 0-5 Shelbourne FC". Extratime.com. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  9. Donnelly, David (30 October 2021). "Abbie Larkin stars on full debut as Shelbourne down Galway to keep slim title hopes alive". Dublin Live. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  10. O'Mahony, Paul (7 December 2021). "Women's National League: "These are exciting times for women's football in Ireland. The time to jump on board is now…."". Hot Press. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  11. Cummiskey, Gavin (21 November 2021). "Edel Kennedy's stunner seals FAI Cup for Wexford and denies Shels a double". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  12. "Abbie Larkin commits to Shels". Shelbourne F.C. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  13. O'Connor, Sean (22 December 2022). "Jess Gargan says now-deleted Shelbourne tweet 'nothing short of embarrassing and unacceptable'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  14. Kinsella, Rudi (21 December 2022). "Shelbourne criticised over "cowards" social media post". Punditarena. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  15. "Ireland U15 Schools side overcome Galway WFC test". Football Association of Ireland. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  16. "PREVIEW | WU17 v Hungary". Football Association of Ireland. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  17. Donnelly, David (11 February 2022). "16-year-old Shelbourne winger Abbie Larkin gets first Ireland call-up as Megan Campbell returns". Dublin Live. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  18. Quinn, Philip (12 February 2022). "'We have lost nine or ten players' – Vera Pauw warns Brexit has led to mass exodus of Irish talent". Extra.ie. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  19. Fitzmaurice, Aidan (22 February 2022). "'It's about Sweden now' - Ireland star Denise O'Sullivan turns attention to World Cup clash after successful trip to Spain". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  20. Duffy, Emma (28 June 2022). "'She's only 17-years-old, but I hope that everybody has seen how talented she is'". The42.ie. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  21. Sneyd, Daniel (5 July 2023). "At home with Ireland's youngest World Cup star: Fearless, a fighter, and a bit of a messer". The42.ie. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  22. "Georgia 0-9 WNT". FAI. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
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