It's been quite a journey for Abbie Larkin, the fleet-footed winger from Ringsend who breezed onto the world stage with such carefree abandon 15 months ago.Larkin’s stock rocketed after her appearance off the bench against Australia in the opening game of last year’s World Cup.
She was just 17 then, playing at Shamrock Rovers, brashly unfazed in the cauldron of the Accor Stadium which housed over 75,000 fans that night.Larkin jinked and danced, the decibel levels among the Irish supporters going up a few levels whenever she had the ball at her feet.
A star was born.She featured in all three of Ireland’s group games and came home with her reputation significantly enhanced.
A move across the water was inevitable. The following September she went to Glasgow City scoring nine times in 16 games before making a surprise switch to Crystal Palace in January of this year, helping the Eagles to promotion from the Championship.But it’s curious that her international progress has stalled somewhat.