Larne owner Kenny Bruce says his club’s success in the Uefa Conference League will benefit the entire Irish League.
Andy Ryan hit a hat-trick at Inver Park as Larne beat Lincoln Red Imps 4-3 on aggregate to become the first Irish League club to make the group or league stages of a major European club competition.
“It breaks through that glass ceiling – people have to do something first and Larne have now done this for the first time for Northern Irish football,” said Bruce, whose investment kick-started Larne’s renaissance.
“The Northern Irish football family has been brilliant too, letting us postpone games to give us the best opportunity to qualify because every club in the country will now benefit from the exposure, finances and solidarity money.
“This gives everyone a fresh impetus.”
Tiernan Lynch’s side were reduced to 10 men and came from behind before winning Thursday night’s second leg 3-1 at a rapturous Inver Park, with chairman Gareth Clements there to watch the drama unfold.
“It’s monumental, it’s ground-breaking for the Irish League and it’s groundbreaking for Larne – we did it the Larne way, we made it hard for ourselves but the boys fought like Trojans,” said Clements.
“There were a few tears – we’ve worked very very hard and dreamed of European football. We got that and we had a five-year plan to make the group stages.
“We’re two years into that and we’ve done it so I think there’s going to be a few happy people around here for the next couple of days.”