Kevin O’Hara insists it was a “no-brainer” to join Premiership champions Larne after meeting with manager Gary Haveron – and wants to replicate the success of his fellow countrymen at Inver Park.

Scottish striker O’Hara is the latest Inver Reds arrival with the 27-year-old joining after spending the past three years at Hamilton.

A former Scotland youth international, O’Hara has also enjoyed spells at Falkirk, Alloa Athletic and Dunfermline Athletic with a move to Larne his first stint away from home.

Last month, Hamilton confirmed O’Hara’s departure after scoring 38 goals in 130 appearances across all competitions – he helped Accies seal promotion back to Scotland’s second tier in 2024, netting 14 times in League One.

placeholder image — Larne's new striker Kevin O'Hara. (Photo by Larne FC)

Alongside having an eye for goal, O’Hara is also a creator – he provided 11 assists last term and seven during Hamilton’s promotion campaign.

O’Hara rejected a new contract at Hamilton and turned down offers from clubs in the Scottish Championship to join Larne and insists it was a chance he had to take.

"After the summer break I was looking for new options and a new opportunity,” he told the club’s media channel. “My agent gave me a call saying Larne were interested and I was really excited to explore it.

"After speaking to the club and the manager, it was an opportunity that I couldn't turn down.

"I had been at Hamilton for three years so it was probably time for a fresh start and once I spoke to the manager about the plans he had for me and the club this season, it was a no-brainer.

"It's a lot of new faces for me, I don't really know many players, the only one I really knew was Rohan (Ferguson).

"The boys have been brilliant, welcomed me in really well and made sure I'm part of it. It has been a good standard in training as well so it has been good.”

O’Hara is making a popular move across the Irish Sea with the likes of Rohan Ferguson, Shaun Want and Andy Ryan all impressing with Larne after arriving from Scotland.

Ferguson remains at the club and was Larne’s penalty shoot-out hero once again in their Charity Shield triumph over Coleraine, while Want and Ryan departed having won Gibson Cup titles.

Haveron revealed he consulted Ryan, who opted for a return to Hamilton this summer after cementing his status as a Larne legend, over the signing of O’Hara.

Several Scots have enjoyed success in the Premiership across recent years with the likes of Kieran Offord and Fraser Bryden hitting the ground running, and O’Hara will want to follow in their footsteps.

"I know them (Ryan and Want) from football in Scotland and have kept an eye on their progress to see how the Scottish boys are doing,” he added. “I know they did really well here and hopefully I can do the same.

"It's something totally different in my career (playing in Europe). I have never had the opportunity to do that in Scotland so that's why it was a no-brainer.”