Larne manager Gary Haveron has praised his side’s emphatic Premiership response to their dramatic European exit after winning five consecutive league matches when “people maybe felt we were going to crumble”.

Since losing in the dying moments of extra-time to Lincoln Red Imps in their Conference League play-off – a tie Larne led 2-0 heading into the final seven minutes at Inver Park – Haveron’s men have registered wins over Glentoran, Bangor, Portadown, Cliftonville and Carrick Rangers.

Only leaders Coleraine and Larne remain unbeaten at this stage with the pair widely fancied to battle it out for Gibson Cup honours this season.

The Bannsiders (18) and Crusaders (13) are the two teams to have scored more goals than Larne (12) – the Inver Reds have played two games fewer – while they’ve also only conceded just three times.

placeholder image — Larne manager Gary Haveron. (Photo by Andrew McCarroll/Pacemaker Press)

One of the main talking points following Larne’s European defeat was how they’d bounce back from the disappointment, but Haveron insists he had no doubt it would be positive.

"Our form in Europe was excellent, how we performed, how we approached the games, how competitive we were...the scoreline against Red Star wasn't competitive, but the performance was really good against the highest level of opposition,” he told the club’s media channel. “We could have felt sorry for ourselves with what happened against the Red Imps.

"For 94 minutes out in Gibraltar we were sensational, for 83 minutes at home we were fantastic, and seven minutes of madness...we go all the way to the last kick in extra-time as well.

"People maybe felt we were going to crumble off the back of it, I never felt that was the case.

"I felt we had to bounce back and show what we're about as a group and we've done that.

"Glentoran at home, Cliftonville, Bangor, away to Portadown where we haven't won in four years, away to Taylors Avenue, it shows every side of what team we have and if we need to mix it, we can mix it, if you want to play, let's play. We have been brilliant.”

With a number of Larne’s players called up to represent their countries over the coming days, the reigning Premiership champions won’t be back in league action until facing Crusaders at Seaview on October 10.

Having returned to pre-season training at the start of June to begin European preparations, Haveron believes Larne’s stars have earned a break.

"We have a number of players away, but it's more to do with a mental reset,” added Haveron. “We had four weeks off, that's not a long time for a professional to recover after a gruelling season, it's very difficult.

"It's a mental reset for the boys to get away, freshen up, enjoy time with their families...they make big sacrifices for them too.

"We will give them this first week to do that and then we'll be back at it and back on the horse to hopefully pick up where we left off."