Headline: Larne’s Gary Haveron Prepares for Challenging UEFA Conference League Play-Off Against Lincoln Red Imps
Larne manager Gary Haveron acknowledged the difficult challenge ahead as his team prepares to face Lincoln Red Imps in their UEFA Conference League play-off. The defending Irish Premiership champions will meet the Gibraltar side at Victoria Stadium on Thursday, August 20, at 17:00 BST, followed by the second leg at Inver Park the following week.
This match comes just five days after Larne’s goalless draw with Coleraine in the Premiership, a game that Haveron believes should have been postponed by the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL).
“It is a difficult ask,” Haveron expressed in an interview with BBC Sport NI. “We have got to play at six o’clock in the middle of the heat that they have out in Gibraltar. It’s not easy, and it could have been made a lot easier for us, but it is what it is. We will be as resilient as ever and we will have a game plan.”
Larne previously defeated the Red Imps 4-3 on aggregate in their Conference League play-off match two years ago, making history as the first Irish League club to reach the group stages of a European competition.
With hopes to advance from the qualifiers, Larne seeks to solidify the Irish Premiership’s chances of retaining its fourth European qualifying spot. Haveron emphasized the importance of their representation, saying, “We’ll prepare as best we possibly can and we’ll do our best to represent the league, Northern Ireland, each other and the football club to get a result.”
When discussing their European endeavors, he noted, “When we go out in Europe, we are not just representing Larne or the town, we are representing the league, NIFL and the country, so we want to do the country proud. If everyone and every club can benefit from it then brilliant and I am only glad to do it.”
Larne manager Gary Haveron said it will be a “difficult ask” to overcome Lincoln Red Imps in their their Uefa Conference League play-off.
The defending Irish Premiership champions face the Gibraltar side at Victoria Stadium on Thursday, 20 August (17:00 BST) before the second leg at Inver Park a week later.
Advertisement
The Inver Reds are returning to European action just five days after their goalless draw with Coleraine in the Premiership, a match which Haveron believed should have been postponed by the Northern Ireland Football League [NIFL].
“It is a difficult ask,” Haveron told BBC Sport NI.
“We have got to play at six o’clock in the middle of the heat that they have out in Gibraltar.
“It’s not easy and it could have been made a lot easier for us, but it is what it is. We will be as resilient as ever and we will have a game plan.”
Larne defeated Red Imps 4-3 on aggregate in their Conference League play-off match two years ago to become the first Irish League club to ever make the group stages of a European competition.
Advertisement
Now, they will aim to make history once again by advancing out of the qualifiers and, if they progress, will bolster the Irish Premiership’s chances of keeping their fourth European qualifying spot.
“We’ll prepare as best we possibly can and we’ll do our best to represent the league, Northern Ireland, each other and the football club to get a result,” he continued.
“When we go out in Europe, we are not just representing Larne or the town, we are representing the league, NIFL and the country, so we want to do the country proud.
“If everyone and every club can benefit from it then brilliant and I am only glad to do it.”
[/gpt3]