Europa Conference League: Larne humbled by League of Ireland champions

It was one of the nights when the gul in class was all too evident.

Four-in-a-row League of Ireland champions Shamrock Rovers came to Belfast in what should have been a battle for bragging rights as to who was the best side in Ireland against back-to-back Irish Premiership title winners Larne.

It was anything but.

The Dubliners took charge of this match from the outset and never let go, despite Larne receiving a glimmer of hope early in the second half with Cricky Gallagher's goal.

Graham Burke helped himself to a double for the Tallaght Hoops and was involved in the other two goals as Stephen Bradley's men showed their superiority.

It's unfair to be overly critical of Larne, but it was an eye opener against a side who possess as vast amount more European experience than Tiernan Lynch's men.

Larne suffered the worst possible start, conceding inside just three minutes.

Rovers’ experienced forward Graham Burke powered into the box though the right channel. While his attempted shot was blocked, the ball fell to Josh Honohan on the left hand side 10 yards out, and the left wing-back was able to slot home past Rohan Ferguson.

Rovers went close just seconds later as again Burke was given space in the box on the right, but could only fire into the sidenetting.

Larne gradually started to find their feet in the match after that frantic opening and went close in the 10th minute.

Benji Magee found space down the right after collecting a pass from Tomas Cosgrove before driving a low ball across the six-yard box. However, Rovers captain Roberto Lopes got there just before Andy Ryan to clear the danger.

At the other end just after the quarter hour mark, Ferguson had to get down smartly, low to his left, to hold a Graham Burke dipping effort from 25 yards.

Things then went from bad to worse for the Irish Premiership champions just past the midway point of the first half.

Once again, the livewire Burke was involved for the away side, his shot from a tight angle on the left beating Ferguson as on-loan Celtic striker Johnny Kenny nodded into the net from point blank range.

As if the mountain Larne had to climb wasn’t high enough, it got that bit bigger on 33 minutes as they conceded their third.

Burke flicked on a corner from the right and it seemed to go the whole way in with a touch off Larne’s Tomas Cosgrove, but Greek Referee Vasileios Fotias initially blew for a free-kick to the side in red. However, after a lengthy VAR check before the man in the middle checked the pitchside monitor, the goal was awarded.

Larne will have been delighted to get in at half-time no further behind and they got the perfect start to the second period.

The visitors failed to properly clear a Sean Graham corner from the right and when the ball fell to Cricky Gallagher just outside the box, the former Cliftonville and Glentoran midfielder took aim and drilled a low effort into the bottom left corner despite Rovers keeper Leon Pohls getting a hand to it.

But any notion of a lifeline was short-lived as the away side grabbed their fourth on 54 minutes.

Burke – the star of the show all evening - collected the ball 30 yards out, strode forward and curled a left foot effort in off the post.

The visitors did have the ball in the net again two minutes before the hour as Johnny Kenny volleyed home after Roberto Lopes' header crashed back off the bar. Luckily for Larne, the Referee had already blown his whistle for a free-kick.

Larne keeper Rohan Ferguson then did well to beat out efforts from Shamrock Rovers subs Darragh Nugent and Trevor Clarke 13 minutes from time as the visitors looked to add to their lead.

Five minues from time, Larne sub Matty Lusty was unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet as his effort from Andy Ryan's lay-off was held by Pohls at the second attempt

All in all, it was a humbling evening for the Inver Park side, who will be back in Belfast in a fortnight's time to take on Swiss side St Gallen on November 7th.

MATCH STATS

Larne: Ferguson, Cosgrove (Want 90), Ives, Bolger, Todd, Thomson (J McEneff 60), Gallagher, Sloan (Randall 73), Graham, Ryan, Magee (Lusty 73)

Subs not used: Besant (GK), P O’Neill, Seary

Shamrock Rovers: Pohls, Cleary, Lopes, Grace, Honohan, Burns (Clarke 73), Mandroiu (Nugent 60), A McEneff (Byrne 73), Poom (Watts 73), Kenny, Burke (C Noonan 66)

Subs not used: Steacy (GK), A Noonan (GK), Greene, G O’Neill, O’Sullivan

Referee: Vasileios Fotias (Greece)