Football: Larne are still the benchmark says Glens boss Devine

Glentoran Manager Declan Devine says Larne are still the team to beat this season in the Irish Premiership.

Tiernan Lynch's men currently sit down in 10th place in the table, with only four games under their belt due to their qualification for the group stages of the Europa Conference League in the Summer.

However, they've only won one of those game so far - a 1-0 victory away to Linfield - with draws at Coleraine and Glenavon, plus a home defeat to Ballymena United seeing the Inver Park nine points adrift of leaders Linfield and Cliftonville, even at this early stage of the campaign.

But Devine, whose side will go top of the table - for a few hours at least - if they can pull off a victory in Larne tonight, says anyone who finishes above the back-to-back champions come the end of the season will be in with a big shout for the Gibson Cup.

"They're double champions for a reason, they've won the last two league titles for a reason, we're going into their backyard, it's going to be such a tough game," Devine admits.

"Tiernan, his players and his club are the benchmark for Northern Irish football at the minute. We look forward to going toe to toe with them, but we also know we are going to have to work to extremely high levels to get something from the game.

"Don't get caught up with the amount of games they will have to play and all the rest. When it gets down to the nitty-gritty, with the squad they have, if you finish above Larne you'll certainly have an opportunity of success.

"The bottom line is they have a good manager, they have good structures at the club, good recruitment – they've good Irish League players and they strengthened by adding to that.

"The way they run their club is something you have to give them credit for, on and off the pitch," Devine added.

"They're outstanding in terms of the style of play that they want to play with, and when you look at the quality they have up front, you know you have to be at your best to keep those top players quiet.

"I think Larne have a good business model. They have top people in terms of structure and running the club and they deserve huge credit for that because they built those structures over a long period of time, not just over the last year or two.

"It's wonderful for the league that our clubs can qualify for that stage of Europe, but in terms of Kenny Bruce and Tiernan Lynch, I think you have to give them the respect they deserve.

"But, there are a lot of warning signs out there as well if you go chasing the dream too quickly, too soon," he says.

"Winning the league title gives you the platform to get to that stage. If you qualify for Europe as runners-up or through the play-offs, there is a hell of a lot more work to do to get to the group stages.

"So I'm sure there will be a lot of teams looking to take Larne's crown over the next year or two."

Sports Direct Irish Premiership Fixtures

Friday September 20 (7.45pm)

Larne v Glentoran

Saturday September 21 (3pm)

Ballymena United v Cliftonville

Coleraine v Loughgall

Crusaders v Portadown

Glenavon v Dungannon Swifts

Linfield v Carrick Rangers