Glentoran star keen to create 'our own piece of history in Europe' as pre-season ramps up with Kilmarnock test

The Glens will return to continental competition for the first time in three years this summer and have been drawn against RFS, who have beaten both Linfield and Larne in recent seasons, in the first round of Conference League qualifying.

Glentoran will host the first-leg at The Oval on July 9 before travelling to Riga seven days later, and although Larmour is aware of the task awaiting his side, he insists they’re determined to seal progression.

"Obviously no team has a right to play in Europe every year, but Glentoran is a club which should be targeting European competition every season," said Larmour. "The club has a very proud history both domestically and competing on the European stage, and there have been some big nights down the years as well as some big results.

"We want to add to that record by making our own piece of history in Europe and we will be doing all we can to make that happen.

"We know RFS will be a very tough test for us given their own record in European competition over the last few seasons.

"So we are under no illusions that we are going to have to be at our best over the two legs to progress into the second round.

"But that's the sort of test we want. We want to know that we will have to be on it from that very first whistle at The Oval next week.

"As I said Europe is very important for this club given what it has achieved down the years, but as players we also know the financial benefits progressing through the qualifying rounds can bring.

"All we can focus on though is going out there and doing all we can to get a result.

"We will be well prepared and the manager and coaches will have done their homework to make sure we are up to speed on RFS.

"It's exciting and I can't wait to be back into competitive action again. As players that's what you want as there's nothing better than playing games which matter."

Glentoran started their pre-season schedule on June 20 against Welsh side Caernarfon Town before hosting TNS and then defeated neighbours East Belfast.

Kilmarnock finished 10th in last season’s Premiership and their Belfast visit will help the Glens further prepare for another Irish League campaign.

Declan Devine’s men were in title contention until the final day of last term – they eventually finished third behind champions Larne and Coleraine – and Larmour wants to continue competing for top honours.

"It was obviously disappointing to come up short in the race for the title in the end, but when you step back and look at the season as a whole there were a lot of positives to take from it," he added. "We had put ourselves in with a real shot of winning the title and up until the second last game of the season that was still very much a possibility.

"That's the closest the club has come in a long time and we have to take that as a real sign of progression.

"We want to be winning the top honours that's for sure and it was tough to take in the end as we narrowly missed out, but we are on the right path.

"We have a good squad here and if we can add a couple more ahead of the new season then I don't see any reasons why we can't kick on again.

"With every disappointment you get in football the key thing is to learn from it and that is what we will certainly be doing.

"We know where we need to improve from last season and the lads are certainly up for putting in another fight come the start of the new campaign."