Conference League Preview: Larne -v- Shamrock Rovers

None

Shamrock Rovers visit Windsor Park on Thursday evening as they bid to win their first European group stage match against Northern Irish champions Larne (kick-off is at 5.45pm).

The game will be aired live on Premier Sports 1 & you can find all the details on the match here courtesy of Macdara Ferris.

LARNE

Northern Irish champions Larne have endured a patchy start to their league season and currently lie eighth in the table on 15 points from nine games.

Though they have played three matches less than leaders Linfield due to their European commitments.

But they are unable to play their home league phase matches at their Inver Park home, leading them to up sticks and use Windsor Park as their temporary home against Rovers.

And their boss Tiernan Lynch has told his players not to give the League of Ireland champions Shamrock Rovers ‘too much respect’.

The Inver Men lost their Conference League opener 3-0 to Molde earlier this month.  

"I don't think there's a big difference but I think there's a difference,” the 44-year-old told BBC NI on the perceived difference in level between the LOI and Irish League. 

"There's probably more teams that are full-time and I definitely think still there's a level of professionalism that we as a league and us as clubs could probably emulate and need to get a bit closer to but I don't think it's a massive task. 



"We're under no illusions of the football they play but I keep harping back to us and what we can do and I don't think we need to give them too much respect."

Ryan McKendry will miss out on the game due to suspension for Larne having been sent off in the previous round away to Molde. 

SHAMROCK ROVERS

After picking up an impressive point in their Conference League opener against APOEL Nicosia in the previous round, Rovers head to Belfast with a pep in their step.

And the Hoops will likely be backed by 1,600 supporters at Windsor Park as they have their eyes on a big European result.



A win would put the Dublin 24 side in a great place on their journey to reach the knockout stages of the Conference League with home ties against TNS of Wales and Bosnian outfit Borac Banja Luka to come in the next few weeks.

Though boss Stephen Breadley will be without suspended Neil Farrugia for the Hoops’ trip across the border with defender Sean Hoare also absent. Trevor Clarke and Aaron Greene are back though. 

“I think Larne are a very good team,” Bradley told shamrockrovers.ie. 

“They’ve obviously been setting the standards in the Irish League for the last couple of seasons. They have a very clear identity in how they play. 

“We’re well aware of Larne’s quality and what they do, but like every game, we’ll try and impose ourselves on the game as quickly as possible and try and win the game.”

Referee: Vassilis Fotias (Greece).

 

MATCH STATS

Shamrock Rovers are winless in their previous 11 Conference League outings, drawing three of those and losing eight. 

Larne reached the group stages in August to become the first Northern Irish side to achieve the honour of reaching the group stages of a European competition.

Tiernan Lynch’s side are winless in their last two domestic games, losing 3-0 at home to Dungannon Swifts and drawing 1-1 against Crusaders. They also have former Derry City duo Sam Todd and Jordan McEneff within their ranks.

The Hoops last played a Northern Irish side in European competition in the 1984-85 European Cup, where they lost on away goals against Linfield. 

PREDICTION

Larne 0-2 Shamrock Rovers

 

Larne

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful:N/A.

Suspended:Ryan McKendry.

 

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Sean Hoare.

Doubtful:None.

Suspended: Neil Farrugia.

About Andrew Dempsey

View Full Profile