Late goals from Paul O’Neill and Kevin O’Hara helped Larne take a huge stride towards Conference League qualification as they sealed a 2-0 victory over Lincoln Red Imps in Gibraltar in the first leg of their play-off.

Defeating Tre Fiori in Champions League qualifying earlier this summer ensured Gary Haveron’s side had a shot of repeating their historic feat of 2024 when they became the first Irish League team to make it to the League Phase – and they’re now just 90 minutes away.

Qualification is worth a minimum of €3.17million in prize money with the potential for more – a victory banks a further €400,000.

The likes of Rangers, Monaco and Brighton could provide potential opposition if Larne are able to navigate their way past Red Imps at Inver Park – just like they did two years ago when Andy Ryan scored a famous hat-trick.

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

O’Neill netted eight minutes after coming off the bench, finishing from James Simpson’s pass, before summer signing O’Hara registered his first Larne goal in injury time, completing a dream result.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men after 28 minutes when Yussef Flalhi Idrissi’s challenge on Sean Graham was upgraded from a yellow to red following a VAR review.

Chances were at a premium as Larne pressed to make their advantage count – and the Co Antrim club eventually did with O’Neill striking in the 85th minute before O’Hara doubled their advantage.

Prior to the match, Haveron spoke about ensuring Larne’s chances of progression remained alive heading back to Northern Ireland – but they’ll now be considered heavy favourites to take their spot in the Conference League.

It's also a huge result for the Irish League as a whole as the Premiership looks to hang onto its fourth European spot.

"Yeah, absolutely (want to make sure tie is alive going to Inver Park),” Haveron told the club’s media channel before the match. “You can very much be out of a tie after the first leg.

"We want to bring them back to Inver Park, pack Inver Park out and ask questions of this team, as they will want to do – they’ll want to go over with a lead if they can.

"It’s not changing our mindset at all, we’re not coming here to be ultra defensive, that’s not the best way of this team playing, so we will try and create opportunities and score goals.

"These European games aren’t easy, you’re playing against top opposition and top players. Opportunities are few and far between, but you have to take moments in games.

"We know when the big moments come that we have to be ready to take them.”