Abbie Larkin returned to the Ireland starting lineup against Georgia on Friday night, her first time in the XI in just under a year.
The 19-year-old made the most of her opportunity, dazzling the Georgian defence and earning herself the Player of the Match award.
It was some way to announce your return to the starting lineup and Larkin earned praise from across the board after Friday's massive 6-0 win.
Her first goal for her country came away to Georgia in 2022 and, having picked up the POTM award on Friday, she said it was a happy hunting ground for her.
It’s seeming like a bit of a tradition now, isn’t it? It’s amazing getting Player of the Match, it’s probably one of my goals in football, especially with my country - but no goals today!
Reflecting on the game, Larkin said that she had been determined to fight her way back into the starting lineup and that she hoped Friday was just the beginning for her.
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Abbie Larkin thrilled to be back to her best with Ireland
The last time Abbie Larkin started for Ireland was the miserable, rain-sodden night in Albania last October. Just under a year later, she made the most of a chance to start at right wing-back.
She laid on an assist for Kyra Carusa's second-half goal, having herself been central to all of Ireland's first-half attacking play.
After 12 months away, she told us on Friday that she had worked hard to prove she deserved to be put back in from the start.
Everyone who comes in, they want to start and they want to play 90. That was definitely a goal of mine and I’ve achieved that. Hopefully I can keep driving on from now.
I’m so proud of myself with how I performed, and especially with the girls getting the result we really wanted.
It’s definitely 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 today, show my skills, dribble a lot, get some crosses in the box.
Eileen Gleeson hinted post-match that the comfortable nature of Ireland's win may lead to some more rotation for Tuesday night's second leg - hopefully that will be a formality for the Girls in Green.
Larkin is not particularly interested in accepting a bench role, however, saying that she is still motivated to put in the work in training to earn a starting spot again.
That’s definitely in the back of my head. I’ve just got to keep working hard now and not stop there. I’ve got to keep working hard in training and hopefully get a chance on Tuesday.
It’s definitely not over one bit. Georgia are going to come at us when we get home and we need to be ready for that. Hopefully [we’ll] get a few goals on the scoresheet.
Two years on from her first goal for Ireland against the same opposition, Abbie Larkin may just have had another hugely significant moment in her international career.
"I definitely think I’ve developed a lot as a player," Larkin says when reflecting on how she has changed since that summer 2022 night.
"I’ve still got a lot of developing to do but yeah, since I last played here…I was young coming in and I think the moves across to Glasgow and the UK have definitely helped me quite a lot. Especially being in the WSL now and getting a few minutes, that’s helped me coming in here. I was just confident on the ball so I think that definitely played a part in it."
