| JJ McKiernan | |
| Fullname: | John Joshua McKiernan |
| Birth Date: | 18 January 2002 |
| Birth Place: | Southampton, England |
| Height: | 6ft 1in |
| Position: | Central midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Lincoln City |
| Clubnumber: | 10 |
| Youthyears1: | –2018 |
| Youthclubs1: | Andover Town |
| Youthyears2: | 2018–2022 |
| Youthclubs2: | Watford |
| Years1: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs1: | Watford |
| Caps1: | 0 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2022 |
| Clubs2: | → Bohemians (loan) |
| Caps2: | 1 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs3: | → Eastleigh (loan) |
| Caps3: | 41 |
| Goals3: | 4 |
| Years4: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs4: | Morecambe |
| Caps4: | 28 |
| Goals4: | 7 |
| Years5: | 2024– |
| Clubs5: | Lincoln City |
| Caps5: | 2 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2020– |
| Nationalteam1: | Northern Ireland U21 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 7 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 15:56, 17 August 2024 (UTC) |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 09:49, 13 February 2024 (UTC) |
John Joshua McKiernan (born 18 January 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for club Lincoln City and the Northern Ireland U21 national team.
Born in Southampton, McKiernan joined Watford at U18 level in December 2018[1] having previously played for non-league Andover Town in the FA Youth Cup. He signed his professional contract in July 2021[2] and has been given squad number 43.[3]
McKiernan moved to Bohemians on loan in January 2022[4] and made one appearance[5] before returning to Watford to attend pre-season training camp in Austria, including an appearance against Panathinaikos.[6] McKiernan joined National League team Eastleigh in August 2022 on loan.[7] He was released from Watford at the end of the 2022–23 season.[8]
On 1 July 2023, McKiernan signed for League Two club Morecambe on a one-year deal.[9] [10] On 7 October McKiernan made history at Morecambe with the club's first ever away hat-trick against Colchester United in a 3–1 win,[11] two of the goals scored after going down to a ten man team.[12]
On 1 July 2024, McKiernan joined Lincoln City on a four-year deal.[13] He made his debut on 10 August, in a 3–2 win against Burton Albion where he started the game.[14]
McKiernan is eligible to represent England and Northern Ireland at international level. He chose to represent Northern Ireland at international level, qualifying through his paternal grandparents.[15] He was selected at 18 to make his debut with Andy Crosby's U21 squad against Finland, obtaining a yellow card in the 21st minute.[16] During the 2023–24 season, McKiernan was called up again for the Northern Ireland U21 2025 Euro Qualifiers.[17]
| Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Watford | 2018–19 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2019–20 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Bohemians (loan) | 2022 | League of Ireland Premier Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Eastleigh (loan) | 2022–23 | National League | 41 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 45 | 5 | |
| Morecambe | 2023–24 | League Two | 28 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 7 | |
| Lincoln City | 2024–25 | League One | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Career total | 72 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 82 | 12 | |||