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Leanne Kiernan

{{short description|Irish footballer (born 1999)}}

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Leanne Kiernan

| image = 20241006-Leanne Kiernan (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Kiernan with Liverpool in 2024

| full_name =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|04|27|df=y}}

| birth_place = Bailieborough, Ireland

| height = 5 ft 5 in

| position = Striker

| currentclub = Liverpool

| clubnumber = 9

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Bailieboro Celtic

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Kingscourt Harps AFC

| years1 = 2015–2018

| clubs1 = Shelbourne

| caps1 = 32

| goals1 = 34

| years2 = 2018–2021

| clubs2 = West Ham United

| caps2 = 31

| goals2 = 3

| years3 = 2021–

| clubs3 = Liverpool

| caps3 = 50

| goals3 = 19

| nationalyears1 = 2016

| nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U17

| nationalcaps1 = 5

| nationalgoals1 = 3

| nationalyears2 = 2017

| nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland U19

| nationalcaps2 = 5

| nationalgoals2 = 6

| nationalyears3 = 2018–

| nationalteam3 = Republic of Ireland

| nationalcaps3 = 32

| nationalgoals3 = 4

| club-update = 10:20, 11 February 2025 (UTC)

| ntupdate = 02:37, 22 May 2024 (UTC)

}}

Leanne Kiernan (born 27 April 1999) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Women's Super League club Liverpool and the Republic of Ireland national team.

Early life

Born in Bailieborough in County Cavan, Kiernan attended Bailieborough Community School, where she played for the girls futsal 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.{{Cite web |title=Congratulations |work=Bailieborough News |date=5 November 2015 |access-date=21 December 2018 |url=http://bailieborough.com/bailieborough-news-thursday-5th-november-2015-matthew-j-cullen/ |archive-date=21 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221230836/http://bailieborough.com/bailieborough-news-thursday-5th-november-2015-matthew-j-cullen/ |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite news |title=Lure of pigs and the land still strong for Shelbourne's Leanne Kiernan |first=Cliona |last=Foley |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=9 February 2017 |access-date=21 December 2018 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/lure-of-pigs-and-the-land-still-strong-for-shelbourne-s-leanne-kiernan-1.2940459 |archive-date=18 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718205227/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/lure-of-pigs-and-the-land-still-strong-for-shelbourne-s-leanne-kiernan-1.2940459 |url-status=live }}

Club career

=Shelbourne=

Kiernan joined Shelbourne at the age of 15. On 1 May 2016, she scored the winner for Shelbourne against UCD Waves in the WNL Cup final at Richmond Park.{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/leanne-kiernan-sportswoman-of-the-month-for-december-1.2941698 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=19 January 2017 |first=Mary |last=Hannigan |access-date=18 July 2018 |title=Leanne Kiernan – Sportswoman of the Month for December |archive-date=16 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116113339/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/leanne-kiernan-sportswoman-of-the-month-for-december-1.2941698 |url-status=live }} In the 2015–16 season, she scored 5 goals.{{cite web|url=http://www.extratime.ie/topscorers/2023/162/womens-national-league-2015-2016/|publisher=Extratime|date=|language=|access-date=18 July 2018|title=Top Scorers - 2015–16 Women's National League|archive-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718205212/http://www.extratime.ie/topscorers/2023/162/womens-national-league-2015-2016/|url-status=live}} In 2016, she scored 12 goals{{cite web|url=http://www.extratime.ie/topscorers/2024/162/womens-national-league-2016/|publisher=Extratime|date=|language=|access-date=18 July 2018|title=Top Scorers - 2016 Women's National League|archive-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718204925/http://www.extratime.ie/topscorers/2024/162/womens-national-league-2016/|url-status=live}} and was part of the "invincible" Shelbourne side that won the WNL without losing a single game.{{cite web|url=https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2018/july/18-july/seven-things-you-need-know-about-leanne-kiernan|publisher=West Ham United F.C.|date=18 July 2018|language=|access-date=18 July 2018|title=Seven things you need to know about Leanne Kiernan}} On 6 November 2016, she scored a hat-trick against Wexford Youths in the FAI Women's Cup final.{{cite web|url=http://www.the42.ie/leanne-kiernan-2016-shelbourne-ireland-3162729-Dec2016/|publisher=The42|date=31 December 2016|language=|access-date=18 July 2018|title=Shel-shocking the Aviva and a dazzling year in green: Leanne Kiernan's 2016|archive-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718205131/http://www.the42.ie/leanne-kiernan-2016-shelbourne-ireland-3162729-Dec2016/|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.extratime.ie/articles/18188/continental-tyres-womens-national-league-awards-announced/|publisher=Extratime|date=12 January 2017|language=|access-date=18 July 2018|title=Continental Tyres Women's National League Awards Announced|archive-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718205015/http://www.extratime.ie/articles/18188/continental-tyres-womens-national-league-awards-announced/|url-status=live}} The following week, she was also named Sportswoman of the Month for December 2016 by The Irish Times. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.extratime.ie/topscorers/2026/162/womens-national-league-2017/|publisher=Extratime|date=|language=|access-date=18 July 2018|title=Top Scorers - 2017 Women's National League|archive-date=17 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517140108/http://www.extratime.ie/topscorers/2026/162/womens-national-league-2017/|url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Ireland striker Leanne Kiernan joins Women's Super League newcomers West Ham United from Shelbourne |first=Dave |last=Donnelly |work=ExtraTime.ie |date=18 July 2018 |access-date=21 December 2018 |url=http://www.extratime.ie/articles/21362/ireland-striker-leanne-kiernan-joins-womens-super-league-newcomers-west-ham-united-from-shelbourne/ |archive-date=21 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221134703/http://www.extratime.ie/articles/21362/ireland-striker-leanne-kiernan-joins-womens-super-league-newcomers-west-ham-united-from-shelbourne/ |url-status=live }}

=West Ham United=

File:Lewes FC Women 0 West Ham Utd Women 5 pre season 12 08 2018-801 (43970443152).jpg against Lewes, August 2018]]

On 18 July 2018, Kiernan signed with West Ham United.{{cite web|url=https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2018/july/18-july/west-ham-ladies-sign-prolific-striker-leanne-kiernan|publisher=West Ham United F.C.|date=18 July 2018|language=|access-date=18 July 2018|title=West Ham Ladies sign prolific striker Leanne Kiernan|archive-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718234434/https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2018/july/18-july/west-ham-ladies-sign-prolific-striker-leanne-kiernan|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44875658|publisher=BBC Sport|date=18 July 2018|language=|access-date=18 July 2018|title=Leanne Kiernan: West Ham United Ladies sign Republic of Ireland forward|archive-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721143250/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44875658|url-status=live}} On 19 August 2018, she made her debut in a 3–1 loss to Arsenal in the FA WSL Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2018/august/19-august/hammers-women-edged-out-continental-tyres-cup-opener|publisher=West Ham United F.C.|date=19 August 2018|language=|access-date=20 August 2018|title=Hammers women edged out in Continental Tyres Cup opener|archive-date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820235001/https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2018/august/19-august/hammers-women-edged-out-continental-tyres-cup-opener|url-status=live}} On 26 August 2018, she scored her first goal in a 4–1 win over Lewes.{{cite web|url=http://www.the42.ie/leanne-kiernan-interview-4210472-Aug2018/|publisher=The42|date=31 August 2018|language=|access-date=1 September 2018|title=From Leaving Cert to London: The Irish teen prodigy making an impact on both sides of the water|archive-date=1 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901145501/http://www.the42.ie/leanne-kiernan-interview-4210472-Aug2018/|url-status=live}}

On 21 May 2021 Kiernan left West Ham following the expiry of her contract.{{Cite web|last=Fisher|first=Bethany|date=2021-05-21|title=West Ham announce the departure of eight senior players|url=https://herfootballhub.com/west-ham-announce-departure-eight-senior-players-womens-super-league/|access-date=2021-05-21|website=Her Football Hub|language=en-GB|archive-date=8 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408061638/https://herfootballhub.com/west-ham-announce-departure-eight-senior-players-womens-super-league/|url-status=live}}

=Liverpool=

File:Lewes FC Women 2 Liverpool 1 01 05 2022-566 (52045112000).jpg against Lewes, May 2022]]

On 22 June 2021, Kiernan signed for Liverpool, where she was re-united with her former West Ham manager Matt Beard and was assigned the number 9 jersey.{{cite news |title=Leanne Kiernan: Liverpool Women sign Republic of Ireland striker from West Ham |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/12339140/leanne-kiernan-liverpool-women-sign-republic-of-ireland-striker-from-west-ham |access-date=11 December 2021 |publisher=Sky Sports |date=22 June 2021 |archive-date=26 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126170540/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/12339140/leanne-kiernan-liverpool-women-sign-republic-of-ireland-striker-from-west-ham |url-status=live }} She recovered from shin splints which had disrupted her progress and recaptured her goal scoring form in the 2021–22 FA Women's Championship season.{{cite news |last1=Cummiskey |first1=Gavin |title=Leanne Kiernan: 'Sometimes you have to take to a step back to take two steps forward' |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/leanne-kiernan-sometimes-you-have-to-take-to-a-step-back-to-take-two-steps-forward-1.4705045 |access-date=11 December 2021 |publisher=The Irish Times |date=20 October 2021 |archive-date=6 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206035947/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/leanne-kiernan-sometimes-you-have-to-take-to-a-step-back-to-take-two-steps-forward-1.4705045 |url-status=live }} She scored 13 goals for the title-winning Liverpool team who won promotion back to the Women's Super League, and signed a new contract with Liverpool in September 2022.{{cite news |title=Ireland striker Kiernan handed new deal at Liverpool |url=https://www.the42.ie/leanne-kiernan-liverpool-new-deal-5858262-Sep2022/ |access-date=24 September 2022 |publisher=The 42.ie |date=5 September 2022 |archive-date=24 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924175455/https://www.the42.ie/leanne-kiernan-liverpool-new-deal-5858262-Sep2022/ |url-status=live }} On the opening day of the 2022–23 Women's Super League season, Kiernan suffered an ankle injury in Liverpool's 2–1 win over Chelsea which required surgery and ruled her out for several months.{{cite news |title=Liverpool striker Leanne Kiernan set to miss several months with ankle injury which may require surgery |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62978563 |access-date=24 September 2022 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 September 2022 |archive-date=24 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924175459/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62978563 |url-status=live }}

International career

Kiernan received a senior call-up in August 2016, first coming into the squad for two challenge matches against Wales in Newport. She scored the winner on her competitive debut, a 2–1 victory against the Basque Country at Tallaght Stadium on 26 November 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.the42.ie/ireland-women-basque-country-3104481-Nov2016/|publisher=The42|date=26 November 2016|language=|access-date=18 July 2018|title=Stephanie Roche on target as Ireland women give Sue Ronan the perfect send-off|archive-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718205118/http://www.the42.ie/ireland-women-basque-country-3104481-Nov2016/|url-status=live}} She was not named in Ireland's 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup squad.{{Cite news |last=Pyne |first=Anthony |date=28 June 2023 |title=Mannion, Campbell & Kiernan miss out on World Cup |work=RTÉ Sport |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023/0628/1391545-mannion-campbell-kiernan-miss-out-on-world-cup/ |archive-date=28 June 2023 |access-date=28 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628092005/https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023/0628/1391545-mannion-campbell-kiernan-miss-out-on-world-cup/ |url-status=live }}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 9 February 2025}}'{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/leanne-kiernan/425968/|title = Republic of Ireland - L. Kiernan - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|National Cup {{efn|Includes the Women's FA Cup}}

!colspan="2"|League Cup {{efn|Includes the FA Women's League Cup}}

!colspan="2"|Europe {{efn|Includes the UEFA Women's Champions League}}

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="4" |Shelbourne

|2016

|Women's National League

|12

|11

|3

|5

|0

|0

| colspan="2" |—

|15

|16

2017

|Women's National League

|12

|12

|0

|0

|2

|1

| colspan="2" |—

|14

|13

2018

|Women's National League

|8

110010101011
colspan="2" |Total

!32

!34

!3

!5

!3

!1

!1

!0

!39

!40

rowspan="4" |West Ham

|2018–19

|Women's Super League

|15

20021colspan="2" |—173
2019–20

|Women's Super League

|9

10042colspan="2" |—133
2020–21

|Women's Super League

|7

00032colspan="2" |—102
colspan="2"|Total

!31

30095colspan=2|—408
rowspan="5" |Liverpool

|2021–22

|Women's Championship

|22

132021colspan="2" |—2614
2022–23

|Women's Super League

|2

00000colspan="2" |—20
2023–24

|Women's Super League

|14

|5

|2

|0

|3

|0

| colspan="2" |—

|19

|5

2024–25

|Women's Super League

|12

|1

|2

|1

|3

|1

| colspan="2" |—

|17

|3

colspan="2" |Total

!50

196182colspan="2" |—6422
colspan="3" |Career total

!113

56962081014370

{{notelist}}

=International=

{{updated|match played 10 April 2024}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.fai.ie/ireland/senior-women/matches|title=Matches|publisher=Football Association of Ireland|access-date=15 May 2023|archive-date=29 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529235812/https://www.fai.ie/ireland/senior-women/matches|url-status=live}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year

scope="col" |National team

!scope="col" |Year

!scope="col"|Apps

!scope="col"|Goals

rowspan="9" |Republic of Ireland

|2016

10
201770
201874
201950
202010
202120
202240
202310
2024

|4

|0

colspan="2" |Total324

:Scores and results list Republic of Ireland's goals first, score column indicates score after each Kiernan goal.

class="wikitable sortable"

|+International goals scored by Leanne Kiernan

scope="col" | {{abbr|No.|Cumulative goals total}}

! scope="col" | Date

! scope="col" | Venue

! scope="col" | Opponent

! scope="col" | Score

! scope="col" | Result

! scope="col" | Competition

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

align="center"|1

|21 January 2018

|Estádio de São Miguel, The Azores, Portugal

|{{fbw|POR}}

|align="center"|2–0

|align="center"|3–1

|Friendly

|{{Cite web | url = https://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/55501/2018/999944358 | title = Kiernan shines in dominant Portugal victory | date = 21 January 2018 | access-date = 15 May 2023 | publisher = FAI | archive-date = 7 May 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230507214745/https://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/55501/2018/999944358 | url-status = live }}

align="center"|2

|6 April 2018

|Tallaght Stadium, Tallaght, Republic of Ireland

{{fbw|SVK}}

|align="center"|1–0

|align="center"|2–1

|rowspan="3"|2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Qualification

|{{Cite web | url = https://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/39/2019/999943743 | title = Super-sub Barrett secures Slovak win | date = 6 April 2018 | access-date = 15 May 2023 | publisher = FAI | archive-date = 11 May 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230511235319/https://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/39/2019/999943743 | url-status = live }}

align="center"|3

|rowspan="2"|31 August 2018

|rowspan="2"|Tallaght Stadium, Tallaght, Republic of Ireland

rowspan="2" | {{fbw|NIR}}

|align="center"|1–0

|rowspan="2" align="center"|4–0

|rowspan="2"|

align="center"|4

|align="center"|3–0

Honours

=Club=

;Shelbourne

  • WNL: 2016
  • WNL Cup: 2015–16
  • FAI Women's Cup: 2016{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/national-league/leanne-kiernan-hat-trick-secures-cup-for-shelbourne-ladies-1.2856702|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=6 November 2016|language=|access-date=18 July 2018|title=Leanne Kiernan hat-trick secures cup for Shelbourne Ladies|archive-date=6 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406054137/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/national-league/leanne-kiernan-hat-trick-secures-cup-for-shelbourne-ladies-1.2856702|url-status=live}}

;Liverpool FC

=Individual=

  • WNL Young Player of the Year: 2016
  • WNL Team of the Year: 2016
  • The Irish Times Sportswoman of the Month: December 2016

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • {{UEFA player|250091325}}
  • [https://www.liverpoolfc.com/team/womens/player/leanne-kiernan Leanne Kiernan] at Liverpool F.C. Women
  • [http://www.fai.ie/ireland/player/888844749 Leanne Kiernan] at Football Association of Ireland
  • [http://www.extratime.ie/player/11121734/leanne_kiernan/ Leanne Kiernan] at Extratime
  • {{Soccerway|leanne-kiernan/425968}}
  • {{Twitter|kiernan_leanne}}

{{Liverpool F.C. Women squad}}

{{FAI Women's Senior International Player of the Year}}

{{Women's National League (Ireland) Young Player of the Season}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kiernan, Leanne}}

Category:1999 births

Category:Living people

Category:Republic of Ireland women's association footballers

Category:Republic of Ireland women's international footballers

Category:League of Ireland Women's Premier Division players

Category:Shelbourne F.C. (women) players

Category:West Ham United F.C. Women players

Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in England

Category:Expatriate women's footballers in England

Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate women's association footballers

Category:Women's association football forwards

Category:Women's Super League players

Category:Association footballers from County Cavan

Category:Cavan ladies' Gaelic footballers

Category:Ladies' Gaelic footballers who switched code

Category:Liverpool F.C. Women players

Category:Women's Championship (England) players

Category:Republic of Ireland women's youth international footballers

Category:People from Bailieborough

Category:21st-century Irish sportswomen