Aine O'Gorman and Abbie Larkin relish 'invaluable' Pinatar Cup effect for Ireland

Aine O'Gorman and Abbie Larkin are at very different points in their careers.

Peamount's O'Gorman is third on the list of most capped players for the Republic of Ireland, with more than 100 appearances amassed.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Larkin is at the very beginning having won her first two caps during the recent Pinatar Cup.

The difference in experience didn't prevent Larkin from imparting advice to 32-year-old O'Gorman though, as the latter joked when they crossed the Women's National League title battle divide to chat to me on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast at the launch of this year's Aviva Soccer Sisters Easter Camps.

"Abbie stepped into the camp, and she was surrounded by a few younger players like Ellen Molloy, and she just took it in her stride and goes out and plays with no fear," said O'Gorman.

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"She showed that in the game against Russia. I would have chatted to Abbie during the week and just told her to go and enjoy the game and she was giving me tips too.

"We were talking one day around the table after the training and she goes, 'Aine, you just have to go and believe in yourself' and I was like, 'Okay, Abbie thanks for that.'"

Both laughed at that anecdote. Larkin had made an impact for her club Shelbourne last season, marking her debut with a goal and Player of the Match award against Galway before the club went on to pip O'Gorman's Peamount to the league title in a dramatic final-day twist.

The meteoric rise for the forward was capped by that call-up to Ireland manager Vera Pauw's