Abbie Larkin: 'I didn't pay attention to what was said when I joined Rovers – a lot of people have opinions'

Ireland international Abbie Larkin stressed that she was not bothered by the noise that surrounded her switch from Shelbourne to Shamrock Rovers this season.

Larkin, 17, joined the Hoops after a success-laden stint at Shels under Noel King.

But her move to Tallaght Stadium was announced not long after Shelbourne claimed that the forward signed a deal to stay with the club this term.

And on Saturday she played against her former side at Tolka Park for the first time – where she received a frosty reception upon her return to Drumcondra.

“It was good, it wasn’t a welcome… it wasn’t as good a welcome as what I expected it to be,” she explained.

“But I left the club and I didn’t think I was going to be welcomed back as an idol.

“It was a good game, to be fair. I enjoyed it. All the girls were lovely.

“They didn’t say anything bad to me. I didn’t have a problem with any of the girls anyway. I enjoyed the game, it was a good game.”

When later asked about how the move may have affected her – she insists that she was at ease having made the right decision for herself.

“I didn’t pay much attention to anything that was being said,” Larkin added.

“A lot of people had opinions and once I knew I made the right move that was for me to know. I think I did and I am doing well for Rovers.”

Shamrock Rovers have already impressed upon their return to the Women’s Premier Division with two wins and a draw from their first three games.

And under the tutelage of boss Collie O’Neill, Rovers are motoring in the right direction as the Hoops buy into a one-club ethos.

“You’d walk into Roadstone and you wouldn’t know who people are but they would give you a high-five and start conversations with you,” the teenager explains.

“It is a really homely club and I know I have only been there for a few months but it just feels like it is right.

"The training is unbelievable and the quality of football is class. It just makes you want to want to be better. It gives you confidence.

“Collie has been deadly and he is so nice. He is a manager that cares about the players and he wants to do what’s best for them.

“He took a risk as well coming from the men’s to the women’s in a new club that has never had a team in the league for a while. But he has been a great manager.”

This season also may set Larkin up nicely for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia this summer. 

And she has got her eyes on making the plane to the World Cup.

“That’s one to look forward to,” she said. “I think if I keep working hard and keep doing what I’m doing in every game every Saturday, hopefully that gives me a good chance of being on that plane.”

Abbie Larkin was speaking at the launch of Circle K’s new partnership with the Football Association of Ireland. Circle K joins The FAI as Official Fuel and Convenience Partner, partner to the Men’s and Women’s National Teams and the first ever title partner of FAI Club Mark, the association’s grassroots award to improve clubs and help grow football in communities throughout Ireland. For more information visit circlek.ie