Andy Ryan has revealed that the Larne players plan to use the winning mindset of boxing legend Carl Frampton and Manchester United hero Patrice Evra when they take on Shamrock Rovers in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday night.
The build-up to the all-Ireland encounter has been unlike any other fixture in Larne’s history, with two-weight world champion Frampton and Champions League winner Evra visiting the camp prior to the Windsor Park showdown.
Speaking about Frampton and Evra, striker Ryan, whose hat-trick against Lincoln Red Imps secured league phase football for Larne, said: “It was great to have them about this week.
“These are two guys that have played at the highest level in their sports and we’re trying to tap into their mindset when they were at the top of their game.”
On the eve of the match with the League of Ireland champions, Lynch said he wanted those connected with Irish League football to have greater belief about what they can achieve.
Continuing that theme in reference to the European run this season, Ryan said: “One of the big things is this has been a big learning curve for us, you’ve seen that in the first couple of European games we played.
“It’s about learning from your mistakes. When you make mistakes at the highest level, you tend to get punished, but I think you’ve seen as the campaign has gone on that we’ve really learned.
Tiernan Lynch chats to Patrice Evra
“At the end of the day we’re here and we’re here on merit, so we need to believe we can go and compete.
“There’s a big build-up to this game and we feel that and it’s important the players feed off that. It’s 11 v 11 and we have to take the game to them.”
Ryan will be a crucial figure for Larne against Rovers. He is a class finisher, as he has already shown in his time at Inver Park, winning two Premiership titles when he linked up brilliantly with Lee Bonis.
With Bonis moving to the Netherlands in the summer, the former Hamilton star is forging new partnerships with Matty Lusty and Benji Magee.
“We’re very much a unit. We defend as a team and attack as a team,” says Ryan.
“In terms of Benji and Matty, they’re both good, young talents. Lee was a big part but it’s up to us to step up. You never get two players the same, they’re all very different players.
“Me being the more experienced one, the responsibility lies on my shoulders to guide the team through these big games.”
Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill, formerly in charge of Shamrock Rovers, will be on TNT’s punditry team for their live coverage of the Irish affair which will be watched by Ryan’s family and friends in Scotland.
“I’ve got a lot of friends and family back home and people who didn’t watch the Irish League before now are watching our games,” said the striker.
“Seeing us qualify for the group stages in Europe brings more eyes on the League and that’s good for us as a club.”
As for another European hat-trick against Rovers, Ryan’s succinct answer was: “Ideally!”