Gary Haveron taking nothing for granted as Larne look to finish Conference League job
Larne manager Gary Haveron is taking nothing for granted as his side look to finish the job in Thursday night’s Conference League play-off second leg against Lincoln Red Imps and seal their spot in the League Phase once again.
The Inver Reds take a 2-0 lead into the home showdown after late goals from Paul O’Neill and Kevin O’Hara in Gibraltar last week put them 90 minutes away from banking at least £2.7million in prize money with the potential for more.
Almost two years to the day after beating the same opposition to create a piece of Irish League history by becoming the first Irish League team to qualify for the League Phase of European competition, Haveron’s men are aiming for a repeat result.
Andy Ryan cemented his status as a Larne legend in August 2024 as his hat-trick sealed a 4-3 aggregate victory in front of a packed Inver Park.
Larne went on to enjoy a famous League Phase victory over KAA Gent of Belgium, writing their name in the history books once again, and now stand on the verge of further progression.
Should the Inver Reds book their spot in the Conference League, dream clashes against the likes of Scottish giants Rangers, AS Monaco and Brighton & Hove Albion could potentially await.
However, Haveron isn’t looking past Thursday’s clash and insists the tie isn’t over yet.
“It really is (only half-time),” Haveron told the club’s media channel. “If anybody thinks this tie is over they’re mad because football doesn’t work that way.
"You just have to look at Shamrock Rovers’ result (5-1 Europa League defeat to Egnatia) the other week, you’ve got to be at it in every minute of every game in Europe at this level.
"We’re going to need everybody filling Inver Park, everybody coming out to get behind us and make that noise.”
O’Neill and summer signing O’Hara both came off the bench to make an impact last week and Haveron believes it shows the importance of a collective effort in getting Larne over the line.
"There’s boys who start the game and boys who finish it, nobody is more important than anybody else,” he added. “They’re all equally as important.
"Nobody is a sub, you either start or finish...you come in and you make an impact and take the shirt from the person that comes off and you put in the same effort, commitment.
“When you’ve got people willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good, you’re in a good place.
"There’s no better way of proving it than showing it and the impact (the subs made last week) was absolutely brilliant.”