LARNE boss Tiernan Lynch says his side will be approaching Thursday’s massive ‘All-Ireland decider’ against Shamrock Rovers at Windsor Park full of confidence despite “two points dropped” in a 1-1 draw with Crusaders at Inver Park.
The Irish League champions take on their League of Ireland counterparts in the Uefa Conference League in the first ever European group stage match played in the north. Larne’s Inver Park does not pass Uefa criteria for group stage action hence the switch to Windsor Park.
The draw with the Crues - Kieran Offord gave the visitors a 55th-minute lead after a goalkeeping error by Rohan Ferguson before substitute Benji Magee levelled nine minutes from time - means Larne are 11 points behind leaders Linfield with three games in hand.
But Lynch insists “no panic buttons are being pressed” at Inver Park.
The north Belfast man said: “It’s very much two points dropped. It’s very frustrating because I thought we were excellent from start to finish but conceded a really stupid goal and didn’t capitalise on our chances.
“I thought we were superb – we limited Crusaders to next to nothing. I couldn’t ask for any more in terms of effort and commitment. We just couldn’t take our chances.”
Lynch admitted the hectic schedule thrown up by being the first ever Irish League side to play in the group stages of European competition has brought unique challenges.
“It’s frustrating that we’re not getting the time on the training ground we would like but we’re not going to make any excuses about it,” he said.
“That was probably our best performance this season. It’s the most dominant we’ve been and we moved the ball much better than we have been doing up to now.
“There is no panic button being pressed in terms of the league – we are only in October. We have to keep working hard. We just didn’t put the ball in the net and conceded a stupid goal.
“We have a lot of new players and there have been lots of changes. With the talent we have in the changing room we will be okay.
“The Rovers game is massive – we will embrace and enjoy it. Rovers are a very good team and we know how big a task it will be.
“We will have our gameplan in place. We have the the expectation on our shoulders of carrying the flag for the league and for football in Northern Ireland and, please God, we can give a good account of ourselves.
“We are into new territory but this is what we dreamed about when we went on this journey eight years ago – this is utopia for us. We will be a better team coming out the other side.”
Ballymena’s 11-match winning run finally came to an end with a 1-0 derby defeat at home to Coleraine. The Braidmen are in second place, two points behind Linfield – 3-1 winners at Loughgall on Friday night – with a game more played. Rhyss Campbell was on target for the visitors, heading home in the 65th minute.
But Dungannon’s great start to the season continued with a 2-0 win over Portadown at Stangmore Park, the goals coming from Andrew Mitchell and Leo Alves.
Swifts boss Rodney McAree – whose side are in a heady third place, just a point behind Ballymena – said: “We are remaining humble and looking forward to the next game (at home to Loughgall next Saturday).
“Our away form could probably be better – that’s the next hurdle we have to get over.”
Cliftonville drew 0-0 with Glenavon at Solitude, while Declan Devine’s Glentoran and Stephen Baxter’s Carrick Rangers shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at the Oval.