Daniel Kearns (footballer)

Daniel Anthony Kearns (born 26 August 1991) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. Kearns joined Peterborough United from Dundalk in 2011 and had three separate loan spells with clubs across Northern England. He permanently joined Carlisle United after leaving Peterborough, and spent a year there before returning to Ireland, spending his later career at various clubs in the Irish Premiership and League of Ireland.

Daniel Kearns
Kearns playing for West Ham United in 2009
Personal information
Full name Daniel Anthony Kearns[1]
Date of birth (1991-08-26) 26 August 1991 (age 33)[2]
Place of birth Belfast, Northern Ireland
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
2007–2010 West Ham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Dundalk 37 (4)
2011–2014 Peterborough United 32 (0)
2012York City (loan) 9 (0)
2013Rotherham United (loan) 10 (0)
2014Chesterfield (loan) 10 (0)
2014–2015 Carlisle United 10 (0)
2015–2016 Glenavon 18 (5)
2016–2017 Sligo Rovers 35 (2)
2018 Limerick 13 (1)
2018–2021 Linfield 39 (3)
2021–2022 Cliftonville 42 (2)
2022–2024 Larne 30 (0)
International career
2007–2008 Northern Ireland U19 5 (0)
2010 Republic of Ireland U19 2 (0)
2010 Republic of Ireland U21 3 (0)
2010 Republic of Ireland U23 1 (0)
2011 League of Ireland XI 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 October 2023

Club career

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Early career

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Born in Belfast,[4] Kearns began his grassroots career in the youth team of his local club St Oliver Plunkett.[5] He joined the youth team of English club West Ham United in July 2007, having been the player of the tournament at the Ballymena International Tournament in 2006.[6] He soon established himself in the under-18 team and went on to spend three years with the club from 2007 to 2010.[6][7]

After being released by West Ham in May 2010, Kearns signed for Dundalk of the League of Ireland Premier Division in August on a short-term contract.[8] He made his debut in a 1–1 draw with University College Dublin, before going on to make 12 appearances in his first season.[3] Kearns scored his first competitive goals for Dundalk on 14 February 2011 with a hat-trick against Linfield in the Setanta Sports Cup.[3] Kearns played in Dundalk's seven matches in their run to the Setanta Sports Cup Final, where his team lost 2–0 to Shamrock Rovers.[3]

Peterborough United

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Kearns signed a three-year contract with English Championship club Peterborough United on 30 August 2011 for an undisclosed fee.[9] He made his debut for Peterborough on 24 September, in a 1–0 defeat against his former club, West Ham United, coming on as an 89th-minute substitute for Lee Frecklington.[10] He made his first start for Peterborough on 17 December in a 1–0 victory at home to Coventry City and was named man of the match, also playing a part in the buildup to the goal when laid the ball off to Paul Taylor, who assisted with Emile Sinclair's goal.[11] He finished his first season at Peterborough with 21 appearances.[10]

Kearns signed for League Two club York City on 4 October 2012 on a one-month loan,[12] making his debut two days later as a 66th-minute substitute in a 0–0 draw at home to Rotherham United.[13] On 1 November, the loan was extended for another two months.[14] However, he was recalled by Peterborough on 29 November, after making 12 appearances for York.[15] In January 2013, it was confirmed that Bradford City, along with Rotherham and York were interested in signing Kearns.[16] He signed for League Two club Rotherham on 9 January 2013 on loan until the end of the 2012–13 season,[17] making his debut on 13 January as a 51st-minute substitute in a 2–0 home defeat to Barnet.[13] He made 10 appearances for Rotherham as they finished the season as League Two runners-up, earning automatic promotion to League One.[13]

Kearns signed for League Two team Chesterfield on 11 March 2014 on a one-month loan[18] and made his debut that day as a 66th-minute substitute for Jimmy Ryan in a 1–1 draw away to AFC Wimbledon.[19] On 14 April 2014, his loan was extended until the end of the 2013–14 season.[20] He made 10 appearances as Chesterfield won the League Two title and thus promotion to League One.[19]

Kearns was released by Peterborough at the end of the 2013–14 season.[21]

Later career

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He signed a two-year contract with newly relegated League Two club Carlisle United on 11 July 2014.[22] He left the club on 1 September 2015 after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.[23]

Kearns signed for NIFL Premiership club Glenavon on 17 October 2015.[24] He was previously in the advanced stages of talks with another NIFL Premiership club Linfield after leaving Carlisle,[25] but Linfield were unable to complete the deal. It was against Linfield that Kearns would play his final game for the club, as a late substitute in the 2015–16 Irish Cup Final, which Glenavon won 2–0.[3]

Kearns signed an 18-month contract with League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers on 5 July 2016.[26] He signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Limerick on 29 November 2017 in preparation for the 2018 season.[27] He signed for NIFL Premiership club Linfield on 10 July 2018 on a two-year contract.[28]

In January 2021 Kearns signed for Cliftonville[29] and at the conclusion of his contract he signed for full timers Larne in June 2022 [30]

International career

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Kearns represented Northern Ireland in a series of UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifiers in March 2008. However, in 2010 he switched allegiances to the Republic of Ireland, going on to represent them at under-19,[31] under-21 and under-23 levels.[32][33][34] The IFA contested the player's decision to switch national allegiances.[35] He was capped once by the League of Ireland XI, playing in their 5–0 defeat to Celtic at the Aviva Stadium on 31 July 2011.[36]

Career statistics

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As of match played 27 October 2018
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Dundalk 2010[3][8] League of Ireland
Premier Division
12 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 13 0
2011[8] League of Ireland
Premier Division
25 4 2 1 1 0 8[c] 4 36 9
Total 37 4 2 1 2 0 8 4 49 9
Peterborough United 2011–12[10] Championship 20 0 1 0 21 0
2012–13[13] Championship 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2013–14[19] League One 11 0 1 0 1 0 2[d] 0 15 0
Total 32 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 37 0
York City (loan) 2012–13[13] League Two 9 0 2 0 1[d] 0 12 0
Rotherham United (loan) 2012–13[13] League Two 10 0 10 0
Chesterfield (loan) 2013–14[19] League Two 10 0 10 0
Carlisle United 2014–15[37] League Two 10 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 12 0
2015–16[37] League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 10 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 12 0
Glenavon 2015–16[3][38] NIFL Premiership 18 5 3 0 21 5
Sligo Rovers 2016[3][39] League of Ireland
Premier Division
14 2 1 0 15 2
2017[3][40] League of Ireland
Premier Division
21 0 1 1 1 0 1[e] 0 24 1
Total 35 2 2 1 1 0 1 0 39 3
Limerick 2018[3] League of Ireland
Premier Division
13 1 0 0 13 1
Linfield 2018–19[3][41] NIFL Premiership 13 3 0 0 0 0 13 3
  1. ^ Includes FAI Cup, FA Cup and Irish Cup
  2. ^ Includes League of Ireland Cup and League Cup
  3. ^ Seven appearances and four goals in Setanta Sports Cup, one appearance in Leinster Senior Cup
  4. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  5. ^ Appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup

Honours

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Dundalk

Rotherham United

Chesterfield

Glenavon

Linfield

Cliftonville

Larne

References

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  1. ^ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014.
  2. ^ "Danny Kearns". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "D. Kearns: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Danny Kearns". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  5. ^ "The Black & White View". St Oliver Plunkett F.C. September 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2012.[dead link]
  6. ^ a b "Daniel Kearns". West Ham United F.C. 1 January 2008. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012.
  7. ^ "Daniel Kearns: Career history". UpThePosh!. Chris Wilkinson. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  8. ^ a b c "Daniel Kearns". Dundalk F.C. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Daniel Kearns completes Peterborough United move". BBC Sport. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  10. ^ a b c "Games played by Daniel Kearns in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Posh v Coventry: Champagne Kearns is in sparkling form". Peterborough Today. 19 December 2011. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  12. ^ "York City sign Peterborough United's Daniel Kearns on loan". BBC Sport. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Games played by Daniel Kearns in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  14. ^ "York City forward Michael Coulson out for the season". BBC Sport. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  15. ^ "Peterborough United recall Daniel Kearns from York City". BBC Sport. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  16. ^ "Bradford City are lining up a move for Peterborough winger Daniel Kearns". Sky Sports. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  17. ^ "Millers land Kearns". Rotherham United F.C. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  18. ^ "Chesterfield: Danny Kearns joins from Peterborough on loan". BBC Sport. 11 March 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  19. ^ a b c d "Games played by Daniel Kearns in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  20. ^ "Kearns loan extended". Chesterfield F.C. 14 April 2014. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  21. ^ "Peterborough United: Tommy Rowe among five released". BBC Sport. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  22. ^ "Danny Kearns: Carlisle United sign Ireland Under-23 midfielder". BBC Sport. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  23. ^ Hall, Andy (1 September 2015). "Contracts: Midfielder leaves by mutual consent". Carlisle United F.C. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  24. ^ Sinnamon, Andrew (17 October 2015). "Glenavon sign Daniel Kearns". Glenavon F.C. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  25. ^ "Linfield eyeing up Kearns deal". Belfast Telegraph. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  26. ^ Bailey, Ryan (5 July 2016). "Former Ireland U21 winger returns to LOI after spells with Peterborough and Carlisle". The42.ie. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  27. ^ Dollery, Paul (29 November 2017). "Former Ireland U21 winger is Limerick's newest signing for 2018". The42.ie. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  28. ^ "Linfield: Striker Daniel Kearns moves to Windsor Park". BBC Sport. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  29. ^ "Cliftonville Football Club » Dan to business".
  30. ^ "Daniel Kearns on why he swapped high-flying Reds for Inver Park". 14 June 2022.
  31. ^ "Under-19 – Kearns". UEFA. Archived from the original on 15 November 2010.
  32. ^ "FAI success in player eligibility case". RTÉ Sport. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  33. ^ "Turkey U-21 1–0 Republic of Ireland U-21". RTÉ Sport. 7 September 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  34. ^ "Estonia U23 0–1 Rep of Ireland U23". RTÉ Sport. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  35. ^ "CAS 2010/A/2071 IFA v/ FAI, Kearns & FIFA" (PDF). Tribunal Arbitral du Sport. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011.
  36. ^ Mason, Glenn (31 July 2011). "Airtricity League XI 0–5 Celtic". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  37. ^ a b "Games played by Daniel Kearns in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  38. ^ For Irish Cup fifth round: "FT: Welders 1–4 Glenavon". Glenavon F.C. 9 January 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  39. ^ For FAI Cup third round: Goulden, David (19 August 2016). "Last gasp Wexford strike sinks Sligo". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  40. ^ For FAI Cup first round: Farry, Jessica (19 August 2017). "Rovers dumped out of cup". The Sligo Champion. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  41. ^ For Northern Ireland Football League Cup second round: "Linfield 8–0 Moyola Park". Linfield F.C. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  42. ^ "County Antrim Shield final: Larne complete hat-trick with shootout win after lengthy injury delay". BBC Sport. BBC. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  43. ^ "County Antrim Shield: Larne beat Glentoran 2-1 to win silverware for fourth consecutive season". BBC Sport. BBC. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  44. ^ "Larne secure historic first Irish League title". BBC Sport. BBC. 14 April 2023.
  45. ^ "Larne lift title as Carrick secure Euro play-off". BBC.
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