Leanne Kiernan

Leanne Kiernan (born 27 April 1999) is an Irish footballer who plays as a striker for West Ham United in the FA WSL and the Republic of Ireland.

Leanne Kiernan
Kiernan in 2018
Personal information
Full name Leanne Kiernan
Date of birth (1999-04-27) 27 April 1999
Place of birth Bailieborough, Ireland
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 West Ham United
Number 8
Youth career
Bailieboro Celtic
Kingscourt Harps AFC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Shelbourne (37)
2018– West Ham United 19 (3)
National team‡
2016 Republic of Ireland U17 5 (3)
2017 Republic of Ireland U19 5 (6)
2018– Republic of Ireland 20 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:30, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:30, 5 June 2019 (UTC)

Early life

Born in Bailieborough in County Cavan, Kiernan attended Bailieborough Community School, where she played for the girls footsal team. She played with Bailieboro Celtic and, at the age of 12, with the boys team at Kingscourt Harps, where she was spotted by FAI scout Mark Leavy and selected for their emerging talent programme.[1] Outside of soccer, Kiernan had been an accomplished cross-country runner, winning the Ulster club juvenile cross-country championship four times with Shercock Athletic Club, and finishing fourth in the Irish U-13 cross-country championships in 2011. She also played Gaelic football for Cavan up to U-16 level. She lived with her family on a pig farm in Killinkere.[2]

Club career

Shelbourne (2015–2018)

Kiernan joined Shelbourne at the age of 15.[2] On 1 May 2016, she scored the winner for Shelbourne against UCD Waves in the WNL Cup final at Richmond Park.[3] In the 2015–16 season, she scored 5 goals.[4] In 2016, she scored 12 goals[5] and was part of the "invincible" Shelbourne side that won the WNL without losing a single game.[6] On 6 November 2016, she scored a hat-trick against Wexford Youths in the FAI Women's Cup final.[7] In January 2017, she was named Young Player of the Year at 2016 Continental Tyres Women's National League Awards, earning a spot in the Team of the Year as well.[8] The following week, she was also named Sportswoman of the Month for December 2016 by The Irish Times.[3] On 22 August 2017, she made her UEFA Women's Champions League debut in a 0–0 draw with KKPK Medyk Konin. She finished the 2017 season with 9 goals.[9] Kiernan began the 2018 season with 11 goals in her first six games – taking her total to 37 league goals in her three-and-a-half years with Shelbourne – before her departure in July.[10]

West Ham United (2018–)

On 18 July 2018, Kiernan signed with West Ham United.[11][12] On 19 August 2018, she made her debut in a 3–1 loss to Arsenal in the FA WSL Cup.[13] On 26 August 2018, she scored her first goal in a 4–1 win over Lewes.[14]

International career

Kiernan received a senior call-up in August 2016, first coming into the squad for two challenge matches against Wales in Newport.[3] She scored the winner on her competitive debut, a 2–1 victory against the Basque Country at Tallaght Stadium on 26 November 2016.[15]

International goals
Scores and results list Republic of Ireland's goal tally first.

Career statistics

International
As of match played 31 August 2018.[16]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Republic of Ireland 201611
201770
201874
Total155

Honours

Club
Shelbourne

Individual

References
  1. "Congratulations". Bailieborough News. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  2. Foley, Cliona (9 February 2017). "Lure of pigs and the land still strong for Shelbourne's Leanne Kiernan". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  3. Hannigan, Mary (19 January 2017). "Leanne Kiernan – Sportswoman of the Month for December". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  4. "Top Scorers - 2015–16 Women's National League". Extratime. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  5. "Top Scorers - 2016 Women's National League". Extratime. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  6. "Seven things you need to know about Leanne Kiernan". West Ham United F.C. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  7. "Shel-shocking the Aviva and a dazzling year in green: Leanne Kiernan's 2016". The42. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  8. "Continental Tyres Women's National League Awards Announced". Extratime. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  9. "Top Scorers - 2017 Women's National League". Extratime. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  10. Donnelly, Dave (18 July 2018). "Ireland striker Leanne Kiernan joins Women's Super League newcomers West Ham United from Shelbourne". ExtraTime.ie. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  11. "West Ham Ladies sign prolific striker Leanne Kiernan". West Ham United F.C. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  12. "Leanne Kiernan: West Ham United Ladies sign Republic of Ireland forward". BBC Sport. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  13. "Hammers women edged out in Continental Tyres Cup opener". West Ham United F.C. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  14. "From Leaving Cert to London: The Irish teen prodigy making an impact on both sides of the water". The42. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  15. "Stephanie Roche on target as Ireland women give Sue Ronan the perfect send-off". The42. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  16. "Matches". Football Association of Ireland. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  17. "Leanne Kiernan hat-trick secures cup for Shelbourne Ladies". The Irish Times. 6 November 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
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