Leanne Kiernan


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

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. 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.

Club career

Shelbourne (2015–2018)

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. In the 2015–16 season, she scored 5 goals. In 2016, she scored 12 goals and was part of the "invincible" Shelbourne side that won the WNL without losing a single game. On 6 November 2016, she scored a hat-trick against Wexford Youths in the FAI Women's Cup final. 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. 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. 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.

West Ham United (2018–)

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

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.

International goals

GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
126 November 2016Tallaght Stadium, Tallaght, Republic of Ireland2–12–1Friendly
221 January 2018Estádio de São Miguel, The Azores, Portugal2–03–1Friendly
36 April 2018Tallaght Stadium, Tallaght, Republic of Ireland1–02–12019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
431 August 2018Tallaght Stadium, Tallaght, Republic of Ireland1–04–02019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
531 August 2018Tallaght Stadium, Tallaght, Republic of Ireland3–04–02019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification

Career statistics

International

Honours

Club

;Shelbourne