Republic of Ireland international Leanne Kiernan has moved to Super League side West Ham United from Shelbourne.

The 19-year-old has become a key member of Colin Bell's Ireland team during their World Cup qualifying campaign and has now taken the opportunity to move to London.

"I'm delighted to be joining West Ham, as it's the next step in a brilliant adventure for me," the Cavan native told the club's website.

"It's a big step over the water, but the girls are lovely and I'm really enjoying it. It's a great club to join. There is so much ambition to this club and I'm really looking forward to seeing how this season goes.

"It makes it a bit easier that everybody is in the same boat as me as we're new to West Ham. Everybody is friendly and it feels like home.

" We only arrived a few weeks ago, but it already feels like we've been friends for years as we all get on very well."

Welcome to the league @kiernan_leanne! Can't wait to try run after ya when we play each other 😉 ☘️ https://t.co/py7iuY8aTu — Louise Quinn (@louise_quinn4) July 18, 2018

The young star has play for Ireland at U17 and U19 levels, scoring nine goals in 10 competitive internationals, before making her senior debut against Wales two years ago.

Kiernan linked up with her new team two weeks ago and is playing full-time professional football for the first time.

She said: "I'm looking forward to giving it a go and seeing how I get on. Hopefully it'll go well. Anybody coming here wants to be in the starting eleven, so I'll work hard, get my head down and hopefully get a place.

"We want to get our names out there as West Ham this season and show we're not just in the league to take part. We want to make our mark.

"I'm used to being at home on the farm, but now I'm living in a big city like London.

"It's been good so far. I'm living with two of the girls and learning all the new things I need to do now I'm living away from home for the first time.

"Every summer, my job used to be at home looking after the pigs, but now things are very different!"