Abbie Larkin (born 27 April 2005) is an Irish footballer who plays as a forward for Shelbourne and the Republic of Ireland women's national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (2005-04-27) 27 April 2005 (age 17)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Republic of Ireland | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Shelbourne | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Cambridge Boys | |||
| Home Farm | |||
| Shelbourne | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021– | Shelbourne | ||
| National team‡ | |||
| 2022– | Republic of Ireland | 4 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:37, 20 March 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 June 2022 (UTC) | |||
Larkin is from Ringsend and played youth football for the local team Cambridge FC.[1] At nine years old Larkin was accepted into The Metropolitan Girls League Academy two years earlier than the usual admission age of 11.[2] She also played at youth level for Home Farm, before joining Shelbourne.[3]
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.[4] 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.[5][6]
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. Player of the match Larkin scored one goal and served one assist in Shelbourne's 2–0 win, which was televised live by TG4.[7] Shelbourne overhauled Peamount United on a dramatic final day to win the 2021 Women's National League title.[8] Larkin also played in the 2021 FAI Women's Cup Final, but Shelbourne were beaten 3–1 by Wexford Youths.[9]
Larkin represented Ireland at schoolgirl level while she attended Ringsend College.[10] 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.[11]
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.[12] She required her parents' permission to miss school for the trip.[13] She won her first cap on 19 February 2022 in a 1–0 defeat by Russia[1] and appeared as a half-time substitute for Kyra Carusa in a 1–0 win over Wales.[14]
On 27 June 2022, Larkin scored her first goal for Ireland on the occasion of her fourth cap, in a 9–0 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A 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."[15]
Shelbourne F.C. (women) – current squad | |
|---|---|