Larne could have got a result in Helsinki on another day, claims manager Tiernan Lynch
PACEMAKER BELFAST 12/07/2023 HJK Helsinki v Larne Champions League 12/07/2023 Larne’s Andy Ryan gets away from HJK Helsinki’s Keskinen and Lingmann during this evenings game at the Bolt Arena. Photo Dean Houston/Pacemaker Press
PACEMAKER BELFAST 12/07/2023 HJK Helsinki v Larne Champions League 12/07/2023 Larne’s Tomas Cosgrove, Cian Bolger and Andy Ryan try to intercept HJK Helsinki’s Bojan Radulovic during this evenings game at the Bolt Arena. Photo Dean Houston/Pacemaker Press
PACEMAKER BELFAST 12/07/2023 HJK Helsinki v Larne Champions League 12/07/2023 Larne’s Andy Ryan gets away from HJK Helsinki’s defenders during this evenings game at the Bolt Arena. Photo Dean Houston/Pacemaker Press
Larne boss Tiernan Lynch admits he left Finland tonight with mixed emotions after the club’s Champions League debut which was 134 years in the making.
A penalty after three minutes from former Brighton striker Bojan Radulovic settled the tie in favour of hosts HJK Helsinki and ensured they would come to Solitude next week with the slim advantage.
However, Larne’s performance, especially in the second half when they carved out a number of opportunities, will give them a lot of belief that the tie isn’t dead yet.
Boss Lynch and his team flew home straight after the final whistle and he was left to reflect on a night of being proud at the performance but disappointed at the outcome.
“It’s mixed emotions because they are delighted for each other but feel we could have got another result on a different day,” he said.
“I think we under-performed, to be honest, in the first half.
“It’s the first time in the Champions League and we were a little bit in awe and we maybe gave them too much respect.
“We had a little talk at half-time about
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