Johnny Kenny

Johnny Kenny

Personal information
Date of birth	(2003-06-09) 9 June 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth	Riverstown, County Sligo, Ireland
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) [1]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Celtic
Number	24
Youth career
	Arrow Harps
2016–2021	Sligo Rovers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2022	Sligo Rovers	32	(14)
2022–	Celtic	1	(0)
2022	→ Queen's Park (loan)	12	(0)
2023	→ Shamrock Rovers (loan)	30	(6)
2024	→ Shamrock Rovers (loan)	29	(13)
International career‡
2021–2022	Republic of Ireland U19	5	(4)
2023–2024	Republic of Ireland U21	8	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:48, 5 January 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19:25, 15 October 2024 (UTC)

Johnny Joe Kenny (born 6 June 2003) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Scottish Premiership club Celtic.

Club career

Sligo Rovers

In January 2021, Kenny signed his first professional contract with Sligo Rovers. ^[2] He made his debut in March, in a 1–1 draw with Dundalk. ^[3] One month later, he scored his first senior goal against Finn Harps. ^[4]

Like his father Johnny also scored in European football for Sligo ^[5]

Celtic

Kenny signed a five-year deal with Celtic in January 2022. ^[6] He was loaned to Queen's Park in August 2022. ^[7]

Shamrock Rovers loan spells

On 28 December 2022, it was announced that Kenny would be joining League of Ireland Premier Division club Shamrock Rovers on loan for their 2023 season. ^[8] After returning to Celtic at the end of his loan spell, it was announced on 21 January 2024 that Kenny would return to Shamrock Rovers on another loan deal for the 2024 season. ^[9] On 7 November 2024, Kenny scored in a 2–1 victory over The New Saints in the UEFA Conference League. ^[10] On 12 December, he scored two more goals for Shamrock Rovers in their 3–0 win over Borac Banja Luka in the same competition. ^[11]

Return from loan

After impressive form in the UEFA Conference League during his loan spell, Kenny returned to Celtic in January, making his senior competitive debut for the club on 11 January 2025, replacing Adam Idah from the bench in a 4–1 win away to Ross County, in which he assisted the final goal of the game for Luke McCowan. ^[12]

International career

In November 2021, Kenny made his debut for the Republic of Ireland under-19 team, scoring in a 3–2 victory over Montenegro. ^{[13] [14]}

Kenny also scored on his Republic of Ireland under-21 debut in March 2023 ^[15]

Personal life

His father, Johnny Snr. was also a professional footballer and played for Sligo Rovers in the 1990s. ^[16] He is first cousins with Liam Kerrigan, who is also a professional footballer. ^[17]

Career statistics

As of match played 11 January 2025 ^[18]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup [a]		League cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sligo Rovers	2021	LOI Premier Division	32	11	1	0	–		1 [b]	1	–		34	12
Celtic	2021–22	Scottish Premiership	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 [c]	0	1	0
	2022–23		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 [c]	1	1	1
	2023–24		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	–		0	0
	2024–25		1	0	0	0	–		0	0	–		1	0
	Total		1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	3	1
Queen's Park (loan)	2022–23	Scottish Championship	12	0	0	0	–		–		–		12	0
Shamrock Rovers (loan)	2023	LOI Premier Division	30	5	1	0	–		4 [d]	0	1 [e]	1	36	6
Shamrock Rovers (loan)	2024	LOI Premier Division	29	13	1	0	–		9 [f]	7	0	0	39	20
Career total			104	29	3	0	0	0	14	8	8	3	124	39

1. Includes FAI Cup
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
3. Appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup
4. Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
5. Appearance in Leinster Senior Cup
6. Three appearances and two goals in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and five goals in UEFA Conference League

Honours

Shamrock Rovers

• League of Ireland Premier Division: 2023

Individual

• PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year: 2024 ^[19]

References

1. "Johnny Kenny". Celtic FC. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
2. "Johnny Kenny signs professional contract". Sligo Rovers FC. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
3. "Johnny Kenny signs three-year deal". Sligo Rovers FC. 3 November 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
4. "Kenny nets winner for Rovers". Sligo Rovers FC. 17 April 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
5. "Sligo-FH | UEFA Europa Conference League 2021/22".
6. "Striker Johnny Kenny arrives from Sligo Rovers". Celtic FC. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
7. "Johnny Kenny on season loan From Celtic". Queen's Park. 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
8. "Shamrock Rovers sign Johnny Kenny on loan from Celtic". The Irish Times.
9. "Johnny Kenny signs back on loan with Shamrock Rovers from Celtic".
10. UEFA.com. "Shamrock Rovers vs The New Saints | UEFA Conference League 2024/25". UEFA.com. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
11. "Shamrock Rovers vs. Borac Banja Luka". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
12. Association, Press (11 January 2025). "Johnny Kenny makes impressive debut off bench as Celtic beat Ross County". The 42.
13. "Ireland MU19 3-2 Montenegro MU19". Football Association of Ireland. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
14. "Kenny scores for Republic of Ireland U19s as they begin Euro campaign in style". Irish Independent. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
15. "Republic of Ireland 2 - 1 Iceland | 2023 - Under-21 Mens Friendlies | 999948672 | Football Association of Ireland".
16. "Johnny Kenny signs professional contract – Sligo Rovers". 23 January 2021.
17. "'I have shown I'm good enough' – Liam Kerrigan's journey from minor GAA in Sligo to playing alongside Fabregas in Italy". Independent.ie. 25 April 2023.
18. Johnny Kenny at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
19. "Shamrock Rovers and Derry City dominate PFAI team of the year". Irish Independent. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.