A great challenge, a great opportunity - Larne's new reality awaits

From the second tier of Northern Irish football to a debut in a major European competition in the space of five years, Larne will break new ground when they take on Molde in the Uefa Conference League on Thursday.

By qualifying in dramatic fashion - Andy Ryan's hat-trick fired the 10 men of east Antrim to glory against Gibraltarians Lincoln Red Imps at the play-off stage - the Inver Park side became the first Irish Premiership side to reach this stage of a European competition.

For defender Tomas Cosgrove, who has been with the club since their days in the Championship, it has been an incredible journey.

Prior to Larne's landmark achievement, Linfield had come closest to breaking through the glass ceiling of European qualification when they were one kick of a ball away from success in 2022.

Cosgrove admits that was the moment when he realised it was possible for an Irish Premiership side.

"Someone said ‘did you think we’d ever be here?’. To be honest, no," the 31-year-old told BBC Sport NI in Norway.

"I didn’t think any Irish League team would be until I saw Linfield come close.

"They gave us the taste for it and luckily we got here."

Luck didn't have an awful lot to do with it. It has been a long journey, with bumps in the road, but Larne's success didn't happen overnight.

Since boyhood fan turned businessman Kenny Bruce took over a struggling Larne in 2017, he has helped fund their rise through the ranks.

The appointment of Tiernan Lynch as manager proved to be a masterstroke. Promotion was followed by a first County Antrim Shield trophy, a first league title and now a first time in Europe.

For Cosgrove, who admitted the "butterflies are starting" as kick-off draws near, Lynch was the man who grew that belief.

"The gaffer is probably the man who had the dream at the start," he added.

"Obviously you need somebody to help you, and Kenny has done that and all the volunteers and everyone at the club.

"It’s been a rollercoaster ride, to be honest, but it’s one I’m very proud to be a part of."

When asked why he was the man to make his players dream, Lynch replied that he is "a massive believer and advocate of Irish League football".

"I still think there is probably a bit of a lack of belief in the Irish League and in football in Northern Ireland.

"I'm not sure we truly believe we belong at this level, and I think that needs to change.

"I think the mentality needs to change and full-time football needs to change. The more we can develop that as a country then I think you will find more and more of this."

On Thursday, Larne's dream of European football becomes a reality. But as Lynch says, "why shouldn't we be here?".

Thursday's game in mountainous western Norway is the first of six extremely difficult fixtures.

Larne will also face Shamrock Rovers, St Gallen, Olimpija, Dinamo Minsk and Gent in their first European campaign.

Now a leading side in Northern Ireland, they will be the underdogs in each and every fixture, and that lack of expectation from the outside provides an opportunity.

There is nothing to lose, yet everything to gain.

"It's massive. Who knows what the outcomes are going to be, but the big thing for us is that we go in there with confidence," added Lynch.

"There’s a huge amount of work has gone into this on the field and off the field, now we want to do ourselves proud, do the club, the fans and the league proud.

"It’s going to be extremely difficult but we’re not here to make up any numbers. I see we are expected to finish bottom but we have to take that as an opportunity to step up to the challenge."

And for Lynch, the time for talking is over.

"I'm not the type of person who jumps up or down and bangs chests," he added.

"But that doesn't take away with how proud and privileged I am to manage this football club.

"It doesn't take away from how proud I'll be when that team walks out onto the pitch, for everyone involved and everyone who has been on this journey.

"I think we have to stop talking about it now. We have to understand that we're here, and why shouldn't we be here?

"Now we want to go and give a good account of ourselves."