Ciaron Harkin

Ciaron "Jackie" Harkin (born 15 January 1996) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers. He previously played for Derry City (over 2 spells), Institute and Coleraine.

Ciaron Harkin

Personal information
Full name	Ciaron Harkin
Date of birth	(1996-01-15) 15 January 1996 (age 29)
Place of birth	Derry, Northern Ireland
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Sligo Rovers
Youth career
–2014	Trojans
2014–2015	Derry City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015	Derry City	1	(0)
2015–2017	Institute
2017–2019	Coleraine	71	(4)
2019–2025	Derry City	97	(6)
2024	→ Coleraine (loan)	18	(0)
2025–	Sligo Rovers	0	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14:17, 29 July 2025 (UTC)

Career

Youth career

Derry man Harkin grew up supporting Derry City and joined the club's under-19's as a 17 year old from local club Trojans in 2014.^[1]

Derry City

On 31 May 2015, Harkin made his senior debut for Derry City in a 3–0 win away to Edenderry Town in the FAI Cup.^[2] He made his league debut on 5 June 2015 in a 3–0 defeat at home to St Patrick's Athletic.^[3]

Institute

In July 2015, Harkin joined NIFL Championship club Institute, where he played for a season and a half.^[4]

Coleraine

On 8 January 2017, Harkin signed for NIFL Premiership club Coleraine on a two-and-a-half-year contract.^[5][6][7] On 4 October 2017, he signed a new contract with the club running to the summer of 2020.^[8] On 5 May 2018, he was part of the side that won the 2017–18 Irish Cup by beating Cliftonville 3–1 at Windsor Park.^[9]

Return to Derry City

On 30 December 2018, it was announced that Harkin had returned to Derry City on a 2 year contract, as part of a swap deal that saw Ben Doherty moving in the opposite direction.^[10] On 14 September 2019, he featured in the 2019 League of Ireland Cup final as his side were beaten in a penalty shootout by Dundalk, despite scoring his penalty in the shootout.^[11] On 29 March 2024, he made his first appearance in nearly 2 years in a 1–0 defeat at home to Galway United, having recovered from his 2 separate Anterior cruciate ligament injuries.^[12][13] On 29 July 2024, Harkin returned to former club Coleraine on loan until January 2025.^[14]

Sligo Rovers

On 29 July 2025, it was announced that Harkin had signed for fellow League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers until the end of the season, with the option of an additional 12 month contract.^[15]

International career

He was called up to the Northern Ireland U21 team in March 2018, remaining an unused substitute on 26 March 2018 in a 0–0 draw at home to Iceland U21.^[16]

Personal life

Harkin is nicknamed "Jackie" since childhood, after martial artist Jackie Chan, as he was told he was a good fighter as a child.^[17]

Career statistics

As of match played on 16 May 2025^[18]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup[a]		League Cup[b]		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Derry City	2015	LOI Premier Division	1	0	1	0	0	0	–		–		2	0
Institute	2015–16	NIFL Championship			0	0	2	0	–		2[c]	0	4	0
	2016–17				–		0	0	–		–		0	0
	Total				0	0	2	0	–		2	0	4	0
Coleraine	2016–17	NIFL Premiership	12	0	4	0	–		–		–		16	0
	2017–18		36	4	4	0	1	0	2[d]	0	1[e]	0	44	4
	2018–19		23	0	–		1	0	2[d]	0	2[f]	0	28	0
	Total		71	4	8	0	1	0	4	0	3	0	87	4
Derry City	2019	LOI Premier Division	34	5	1	0	4	0	–		–		39	5
	2020		18	0	2	1	–		1[d]	0	–		21	1
	2021		33	1	2	0	–		–		–		35	1
	2022		2	0	0	0	–		0[g]	0	–		2	0
	2023		0	0	0	0	–		0[g]	0	0[h]	0	0	0
	2024		4	0	0	0	–		0[i]	0	–		4	0
	2025		6	0	0	0	–		–		–		6	0
	Total		97	6	5	1	4	0	1	0	0	0	107	7
Coleraine (loan)	2024–25	NIFL Premiership	18	0	1	0	1	0	–		–		20	0
Sligo Rovers	2025	LOI Premier Division	0	0	0	0	–		–		–		0	0
Career total			187	10	15	1	9	0	5	0	5	0	221	11

1. Includes FAI Cup & Irish Cup
2. Includes League of Ireland Cup & Northern Ireland Football League Cup
3. Appearances in the 2016 NIFL Premiership Playoffs
4. Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa League
5. Appearance in the NIFL Charity Shield
6. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
7. Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa Conference League
8. Appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup
9. Appearance(s) in the UEFA Conference League

Honours

Coleraine

• Irish Cup (1): 2017–18

Derry City

• FAI Cup (1): 2022
• President of Ireland's Cup (1): 2023