'That’s gone': Gary Haveron clear Larne over European heartbreak with full focus on title defence bid
Larne manager Gary Haveron insists the heartbreak of their European exit is “gone” and full focus is on delivering in the Premiership as the Inver Reds look to defend the Gibson Cup.
Friday’s visit of Glentoran will mark only Larne’s second league match of the current campaign and first since opening with a stalemate against rivals Coleraine on August 15.
Since then, Haveron’s men were eliminated from the Conference League at the play-off stage in shock fashion by Lincoln Red Imps, conceding twice in the final minutes of normal time before losing in the dying seconds of extra-time.
They were back in action on Tuesday night, beating Newington 4-0 in the Senior Shield, but winning a fourth Premiership title across the past five seasons remains top priority for Larne.
Haveron is adamant that European disappointment is firmly in the rear view mirror and it’s now crucial to string together positive league results.
"That’s gone,” Haveron told the club’s media channel. “European football is finished for this season.
"We look at the eight games we played, we learn a lot from it and we take a lot of positives from our performances when we played in Europe.
"But the focus is very much back to what we’re about as a club and back to domestic football where we play 99% of our season.
"Most teams only spend a short space of time in Europe over the course of the year, so we’re back to doing what we need to do and get results on the board.
"Every game is important, especially when other teams have put points on the board.
"We have to look after our own results and that’s all you can do over the course of a season, you just look after your own result one game at a time.
"It’s the next focus and next opportunity for us to play back at Inver Park in front of our fans...we want to put our best foot forward in every single game.
"We’re going to need the fans to get behind us on Friday. We know the Glens will bring a passionate support here, but we need the same from our Larne fans and same backing we’ve had all season.”