Abbie Larkin wants to follow in the footsteps of her cousin Daniel Kelly by going from an FAI Cup loser to a winner inside 12 months.
Kelly was part of the Dundalk side that lost on penalties to Shamrock Rovers in 2019.
However, he bounced back a year later as the Lilywhites overcame the Hoops 4-2 in a thrilling extra-time decider.
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Larkin tasted Cup final defeat last year when Shelbourne followed up their sensational Women’s National League title win with a loss to Wexford Youths in Tallaght.
They face Athlone Town tomorrow knowing a win would secure a famous double.
Larkin admitted that she might speak with Kelly before the decider for some tips on how to bounce back from Cup final disappointment.
“I haven’t spoken to him about his experience but I might do now! He’s been a great role model for me,” she said.
“Even in quarantine he would bring me out training and keep me fit. He was a great support to me. He’s out injured now but he’ll come back.
“We used to go to Clann na nGael’s football pitch to train. He’s come to our games, he’s a great supporter, his dad and brother come as well.”
One tip that Kelly might pass on is to keep a lid on the title celebrations when a big Cup final is just days away.
Last year, according to several Shels players, the dramatic nature of their final day title win led to an extended period of festivities.
Following last weekend’s retention of the league, they tempered their joy and quickly switched their focus to Athlone.
“Last year we had a bit of a rough patch. We celebrated a bit too much before the Cup final and didn’t perform well at all,” admitted Larkin.
“This year we want to put it up to Athlone and show them what we can do.”
“We handled it well this year.”
A Cup final isn’t the only thing that Larkin has to look forward to.
The 17-year-old is already a senior Ireland international and has one eye on next summer’ World Cup - which kicks off after she completes her Leaving Certificate.
Capped four times, she scored her first Ireland goal in the 9-0 thumping of Georgia in June, while she made the squad for the World Cup play-off against Scotland.
“It’s been a great year for me,” she said. “I think I had a good season last year, I was only really trying to break into the team, even at the start of this season.
“But when I started to get my 90 minutes in, I was getting my confidence back and kind of being more myself on the pitch.
“And obviously with Ireland, my first goal and debut and all that. I think it has sunk in a bit but now I’m focused on the Cup final.”
Once tomorrow’s game is over, she will get back to dreaming of a place at the World Cup.
“I’ve thought about that a lot. I’ve just got to put my head down and work hard and show that I can be on the plane to Australia,” she said.
“I need to keep my head down, keep fit and train in the off-season.
“I’ll definitely work harder than ever before, I want to be on that plane to Australia.”
Larkin comes from an area renowned for producing talented footballers.
She is the latest to emerge from Ringsend, the birthplace of her club Shelbourne and rivals Shamrock Rovers.
“Sean Gannon and Daniel Kelly, they’re great role models, also Kim Flood and Niamh Grant who is in Australia now,” she said.
“There are loads of great role models around here I would have looked up to.”
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