Having failed to claim a place in the new IFA Premiership, Larne FC had intermediate status in Northern Irish football and any thoughts of winning a league title were far away.
It was not until 2016 that Larne FC regained senior status in the second tier of senior football. While sitting bottom of the NIFL Championship in 2018, the club was bought by Kenny Bruce, who had lofty ambitions.
However, no one could have predicted the meteoric rise of Larne FC to the top of Northern Irish football.
A 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 to the Inver Reds 🌟🔴👏 @cosgrove_tomas #WeAreLarne #ForTheTown pic.twitter.com/ZoRez8TYR2— Larne Football Club (@larnefc) March 9, 2024
A 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 to the Inver Reds 🌟🔴👏 @cosgrove_tomas #WeAreLarne #ForTheTown pic.twitter.com/ZoRez8TYR2
Having won the 2018/19 NIFL Championship title, Larne FC were promoted to the topflight and having competed in European football for the first time in 2021, they went on to win their first Irish League title in 2023.
As a result, Larne FC qualified for the Champions League qualifiers but were knocked out following an extra-time defeat against HJK Helsinki.
Having won the NIFL Premiership title in 2023, Larne have continued to perform superbly in the league. At the time of writing, Larne FC are on a run of 26 consecutive home matches in the league without defeat.
Inver Park has become a fortress for the club and you must go back to the 25th of November 2022 to find the last time Larne FC lost a league fixture at their own stadium.
In fact, Larne FC’s overall form in the NIFL Premiership is fantastic.
The 0-0 draw at Coleraine, which is their most recent league fixture at the time of writing, means Larne FC have not tasted defeat in any of their last 22 league matches, which is an incredible run of form.
Teams are struggling to get a foothold in games against Larne FC and they are undefeated at half time in their last 52 NIFL Premiership matches in a row.
Larne FC were excellent defensively when winning the title last season and they conceded only 22 goals in 38 matches.
The quality defending has continued in the pursuit of the title this season and they have conceded only 16 goals in 31 league games.
Considering the next best defensive record in the 2023/24 NIFL Premiership is 26 goals conceded, it underlines how well drilled Larne FC have become at the back.
If we look at the 7 most recent league fixtures of Larne FC, they have conceded only 1 goal.
Significant investment by Bruce has had a major impact on the fortunes of Larne FC.
The improved infrastructure of the club, player recruitment, and the expansion of youth development programs has all played a role in the rise of Larne FC as a major force in the NIFL Premiership.
There is no doubt, without the money spent by Bruce, Larne FC would not be where they are today.
The appointment of Tiernan Lynch as manager was a stroke of genius and Lynch has guided Larne FC from the second tier to the league title.
The continuity provided by Lynch’s long term appointment has played a significant role in the recent success of Larne FC.
Will Lynch take Larne FC to their second league title in succession or can Linfield stop them as we edge closer to the split in the division and the final 5 matches of the season?