Pauw keen to help Irish young guns blaze a trail

Vera Pauw says she'll nurture Irish starlets Abbie Larkin and Ellen Molloy in every way possible to ensure the promising teenagers fulfil their huge potential.

On Thursday Shels attacker Larkin, still only 16, was named in the senior squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Sweden, as was Wexford Youths' 17-year-old Molloy.

Larkin has just spent the week with the Under-17s, who missed out on qualification for the European Championships after a 4-1 loss to Iceland. It had been initially planned to send her with the Under-19s, who take on Greece on Tuesday week, the same night Ireland square up to the Swedes.

Such has been the rate of Larkin's progress however, that Pauw is bringing her to Gothenburg.

Molloy is also eligible to link up with the Under-19s but her brilliant performances in the Women's National League have meant she's long been on Pauw's radar - she'd only just turned 16 when she was first called up to the seniors back in August 2020.

Pauw was full of praise for her younger players but she also sounded a note of caution around how to best handle them on both a personal and professional level.

"Pressure for a game is not the issue. Long-term pressure that the young player is putting on themselves, that is more of an issue."

"We decided that Abbie would play with the Under-17s last week, because she is with her peer group also and she feels as if that is where she belongs," said the head coach.

"Now because she is so talented, she is coming with us, coming with the 'A' squad and that was decided earlier because coming with us means that she cannot come with the Under-19s.

"It is about being clear and open, especially with the parents. In the end, sport is about enjoying yourself, about expressing yourself but