Leanne Kiernan: ‘To have a chance of going to the World Cup, it's a dream come true’

Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium

It has been a long road back to football from injury for Leanne Kiernan and while they talk about the journey rather than the destination, with Ireland about to make their World Cup debut, it is all about making the squad to get to Australia.

Last Thursday in Tallaght, Kiernan made her first competitive start since last September and it was the first time in an Ireland starting XI since February 2022.

They were the latest crucial steps in her recovery from a serious ankle injury picked up on the opening day of Liverpool’s WSL campaign that has ruined her season and left her a borderline pick for Vera Pauw’s final squad of 23 players.

“As a young kid I always wanted to represent my country and to represent it at a senior level and to have a chance of going to the World Cup, it's a dream come true,” said Kiernan after the 3-2 win over Zambia.

“It's a great group of girls and of course, we're very proud to wear the jersey.”

After surgery last year Kiernan had her ankle in a cast when Ireland won the play-off away to Scotland to reach the World Cup and was stuck in Liverpool watching on, crying tears of joy after the win thanks to Amber Barrett’s goal.

Kiernan had a whiteboard with the World Cup dates marked as motivation as she aimed to get back playing football. She only did so getting 30 minutes of game time against Aston Villa last month. So earning her 28^th cap this week was a big deal.

“When you're lying out in a gym for nine months and you'd just do anything to get the opportunity to be in and prove a point and work hard in training.

"I worked hard the last nine months so let's see what happens. Training's been going well the last two weeks (with Ireland) so I’m feeling positive.”

Against Zambia, Kiernan was withdrawn at half time – one of five substitutions - as part of Pauw’s plans to give different players minutes to try and earn a spot in her final squad.

She had a chance within two minutes of her start to score off an Izzy Atkinson pass that she pushed wide.

“The last thing I seen was the ball and it kind of hit my stride,” she said.

She did get the ball in the net, only for it to be ruled out by an offside flag and showed plenty of running as part of Ireland’s front three. But will it be enough to book her place on the plane to Australia?

“Fingers crossed. Sure what can you do, it's out of your control. Relax and see what's to come.”

She was able to look up into the stands ahead of the game in Tallaght to see friends and family supporting her and there were plenty of kids cheering her and banging on the window of the media room when they saw her speaking to the media afterwards.

“I had a few down,” said the 24-year-old when asked by extratime.com about having family and friends from Cavan in the crowd. “It's been a while since I've played football so to have my sister and friends here was nice.”

She will hope that her hard work over the last number of months, and more recently in Ireland camp, along with her 45 minute display in Tallaght will mean she will be part of Ireland’s history making squad in the World Cup down under next month.

Claire O’Riordan ‘thrilled’ with her contribution in Zambia win as final World Cup squad selection comes closer - https://t.co/94rjArrGiRhttps://t.co/IoQYDogEgx

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) June 23, 2023