'Qualifying would be everything we've ever wanted'

Uefa Conference League play-off second leg: Larne v Lincoln Red Imps

Date: Thursday, 29 August Venue: Inver Park, Larne Kick-off: 20:00 BST

Coverage: Watch on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app; live text updates, report, highlights & reaction on BBC Sport website & app.

Tomas Cosgrove says qualifying for the Uefa Conference League would be "everything" Larne "have ever wanted" as they prepare for a potentially massive night in the club's history at Inver Park.

The Irish Premiership champions host Lincoln Red Imps in the second leg of their play-off with victory possibly setting up glamorous encounters against the likes of Chelsea, Real Betis and Fiorentina.

However, Larne must overturn a 2-1 deficit from last week's first leg in Faro as they attempt to break new ground for Irish League clubs in European competition.

"The prize is massive," said Cosgrove.

"To do it for the club and be the first from Northern Ireland, the journey we've been on at Larne, it would take us right to the top of it and it would be everything we've always wanted."

Securing a place in the Conference League could lead to an enormous financial windfall for Larne, who have gone from second-tier strugglers to back-to-back Irish Premiership champions in the seven years since Kenny Bruce took over the club.

But while the financial gain is potentially huge, Cosgrove insists money matters have not been at the forefront of the players' minds as they prepare to host the Gibraltarian champions.

"The players are just seeing the prize of being in lucrative matches," said defender, who joined Larne from Cliftonville in 2019.

"We could get Betis, Fiorentina, Chelsea, teams like that, that would be unbelievable to look back if we did it and got to play there on Thursday night."

Whether their European journey is extended or ended on Thursday, Larne will be thrust back into league action on Sunday with a trip to Coleraine.

With their Premiership games having been postponed to aid their preparations for European encounters, Larne are in a strange position in which they could find themselves 15 points behind Linfield by the time they kick off the defence of their title at the Showgrounds.

"It's very weird and annoying also," admits Cosgrove.

"You're seeing everyone picking up points. I wish we were out there playing but I can see why we're not.

"There's a flip side to that with everyone saying 'why is it Larne, why are they doing this, why are they getting away with it?'

"It's just the way it's worked out. We'll have to catch up on those games sooner or later. It could come back to haunt us or it could help us. We just have to focus on Thursday and then straight into league action on Sunday."