It was a good night for Abbie Larkin, who couldn't take the smile off her face as she sat down for her post-match media duties after helping the Republic of Ireland hammer Georgia 6-0.The Crystal Palace winger had an excellent game, providing her side with width and energy throughout in Tbilisi.The 19-year-old has had to be patient.
She barely got a look-in during the Euro 2025 qualifiers, but a star turn in Friday's play-off semi-final first leg will do her prospects no harm at all as the competition for places intensifies."I'm so proud of myself with how I performed, and especially with the girls getting the result we really wanted," Larkin beamed."Everyone who comes in, they want to start and they want to play 90 minutes.
That was definitely a goal of mine and I’ve achieved that."It’s something I’ve been waiting for. I’m such an attacking player so against a team that sits really low I can show what I’m about.
I just wanted to go out and enjoy it, show my skills, dribble a lot, get some crosses in the box."The Dubliner did all of those things in a performance that offered a reminder of why she was so hyped two years ago when she became the youngest ever Irish player to appear at a World Cup.Then at Shamrock Rovers, Larkin has since moved to Palace - via Glasgow City - and looks a stronger, more mature footballer for it.