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Abbie Larkin looking to take flight to World Cup dream

Abbie Larkin featured during Ireland's most recent World Cup warm-up friendly against China
Abbie Larkin featured during Ireland's most recent World Cup warm-up friendly against China

Abbie Larkin does not turn 18 until next month but the Republic of Ireland forward has already packed in a host of milestones in her burgeoning career.

The Ringsend native has been a full international for just over a year and has already netted once for Vera Pauw's side.

At club level, her medal collection includes two league titles and an FAI Cup with Shelbourne and she has recently made a high-profile switch to her current club, newcomers Shamrock Rovers.

But the biggest moment would surely be selection for Ireland's maiden World Cup appearance this summer and it's her aim to secure a spot on the plane to Australia.

"Definitely, that's one to work hard to. If I keep working hard and doing what I'm doing, just doing well every Saturday during the games in the league, I think hopefully I have a good chance of being on the plane," Larkin said at the FAI's announcement of its partnership with Circle K, the association's new official fuel and convenience partner.

The next meet-up for the Irish squad as they ramp up preparations for the tournament will be a double-header of friendlies against the world No 1 USA next month, before fixtures against Zambia and France in the summer.

In between times, Larkin says Pauw and her staff are keeping close contact with prospective domestic-based squad members.

"We do things called home-based sessions where [Pauw] brings in a lot of players she thinks are doing well in the Irish league and we train and play matches against boys. So she'll keep in touch a lot," Larkin told RTÉ Sport.

Stephen Kenny, John Egan and Abbie Larkin at the launch of Circle K's new partnership with the FAI

With plenty of competition among Pauw's striking options, club form will be paramount and Larkin is hoping to hit the ground running at this early phase of her Shamrock Rovers career.

The club, which has returned to SSE Airtricity League Women's Premier Division level after a decade-long hiatus, signed a host of big-name talent from would-be rivals during the off-season including Áine O'Gorman, Stephanie Zambra, Savannah McCarthy and Amanda Budden among others.

After winning their first two league matches, the Hoops faced their first big test of the campaign as they lined up against Larkin's old club Shels last Saturday, the first time she was back at Tolka Park since her December departure.

Shels had released a statement after her switch to Rovers, saying: "Abbie had initially indicated her intention to remain with the club and, on 9 December, Shelbourne FC made an announcement that she would be staying.

"Naturally, the club is disappointed at this change of heart but we ultimately respect that it is the player's decision to make."

So how did she find that return to her old club?

"It was good. It wasn't a good welcome as what I expected it to be but I mean I left the club and I didn't think I would be welcomed back as like an idol," said Larkin.

Abbie Larkin and ex-Shels team-mate and fellow international Jessie Stapleton after the 1-1 draw

"But it was a good game to be fair. I enjoyed it. All the [Shelbourne] girls, they were lovely and they didn't say anything to me, anything bad. I didn't have a problem with any of the girls anyway."

As for the move to Rovers, it's one she felt she had to make and an experience she has enjoyed so far.

"I'm doing brill with Rovers and I'm enjoying it as well. I just needed a new atmosphere and new people to surround myself with," he said.

And one of those new people - in a club sense at least - is the aforementioned Ireland centurion O'Gorman, who had already taken her under her wing within the international squad.

Abbie Larkin, left, and Áine O'Gorman poses with their Republic of Ireland 2022-2023 caps

Linking up day to day now rather than just window to window has been one of the enjoyable aspects of Larkin's Hoops dream, with both hoping to be part of the World Cup party.

"I love Áine. She's a great person and an unbelievable player. She has that experience that you can just learn a lot from and any question you have, you go to Áine and she'll be there and she'll have the answer for.

"Even seeing her in training and the work-rate she has is unbelievable and she's good to play with such players like that because it just boosts your confidence and makes you want to become a better player. She's deadly."

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