# Gavin Kilkenny

Gavin Kilkenny (born 1 February 2000) is an Irish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for EFL League Two club Swindon Town.

## Early life

Raised in Beaumont, a northern suburb of Dublin, Kilkenny started out his footballing career at St Kevin's Boys, a schoolboy team with several notable graduates, such as Damien Duff, Jeff Hendrick, Dara O'Shea, Robbie Brady and Ian Harte. Kilkenny left home at the age of 16 to join AFC Bournemouth, having excelled as a youngster at Gaelic football and hurling.

## Club career
### AFC Bournemouth

Kilkenny joined AFC Bournemouth at the age of sixteen. He moved into the club's under-21 squad after serving a two-year scholarship in the under-18s and was quickly elevated to the first team in the summer of 2019, having signed his first professional contract in April 2018. Kilkenny starred and scored in an impressive 3–0 pre-season friendly win over Lyon, being named man-of-the-match. He made his debut for the club starting in a 0–0 draw against Forest Green Rovers in the EFL Cup on 28 August 2019. He then appeared in the following round, starting in a 2–0 away loss to Burton Albion. Kilkenny made his first appearance of the 2023–2024 season for Bournemouth in their 5-0 FA Cup defeat of Swansea on 25 January 2024, when he came on as a 57th minute substitute for the injured James Hill.

#### Stoke City, Charlton Athletic & Fleetwood Town loans

On 2 July 2022, Kilkenny joined Stoke City on loan for the 2022–23 season. He only made four appearances for Stoke and returned to Bournemouth in January 2023.
On the 31 January 2023, Kilkenny joined Charlton Athletic on loan for the rest of the 2022–23 season.
On the 1 February 2024, Kilkenny joined Fleetwood Town on loan for the rest of the 2023–24 season.

### Swindon Town

Kilkenny joined League Two side Swindon Town on 30 August 2024.

## International career

Kilkenny is a youth international for the Republic of Ireland, having experience playing in the U18s squads and the U21s.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 16 November 2024
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| AFC Bournemouth | 2019–20 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| AFC Bournemouth | 2020–21 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| AFC Bournemouth | 2021–22 | Championship | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 0 |
| AFC Bournemouth | 2022–23 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| AFC Bournemouth | 2023–24 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| AFC Bournemouth | Total | Total | 15 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| Stoke City (loan) | 2022–23 | Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Charlton Athletic (loan) | 2022–23 | League One | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| Fleetwood Town (loan) | 2023–24 | League One | 16 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 1 |
| Swindon Town | 2024–25 | League Two | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 55 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 69 | 2 |
* ↑ Appearances in EFL Trophy

## Honours

AFC Bournemouth
* Championship runner-up: 2021–22