NIFL chiefs must change the schedule to help our clubs in Europe, insists Larne manager Tiernan Lynch
Champions League
Larne manager Tiernan Lynch has reiterated his calls for a change to the Irish League schedule
Larne striker Lee Bonis cuts a despondent figure following HJK Helsinki's extra-time equaliser at Solitude
Larne boss Tiernan Lynch believes the Irish League programme must be ‘tweaked’ to facilitate clubs and help them compete on the European circuit.
Lynch’s boys were agonisingly nudged through the UEFA Champions League exit door at Solitude on Tuesday night having lost 3-2 on aggregate to crack Finnish side HJK Helsinki.
Although the Inver Park braves trailed 1-0 from the first leg, they turned in a gutsy, battling performance to force extra-time, with table-turning goals by Lee Bonis – from the penalty spot – and substitute Joe Thomson after Tuomas Ollila shot the visitors into the lead.
With the dreaded penalty shoot-out looming, the unthinkable happened when defender Shaun Want, one of the top performers on the night, turned an effort from Roope Riski into his own net.
Unlike their opponents, who are halfway through their domestic season, it was only Larne’s second competitive game this term.
Although Lynch’s team will now drop into the Europa Conference League – they will face Kosovan outfit FC Ballkani next week – the manager firmly believes that changes must be made to give local sides a better chance going forward against foreign adversaries.
“I keep crying and crying... I’m like a broken record but I think our League (NIFL) must start looking at giving us every chance in Europe,” he said. “You can’t go in against teams like Helsinki and play your first competitive match of the season.
“I think the League (officials) need to start looking at that. All you need to do is look at the amount of teams in
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