Tiernan Lynch has called on fans from other Irish League clubs to support Larne in their UEFA Conference League clash with Shamrock Rovers at Windsor Park insisting the more the fixture becomes a North v South battle the better.
In his press conference ahead of Thursday’s eagerly awaited all-Ireland clash, Lynch made the point that it was a ‘necessity’ that football followers across Northern Ireland get behind the Irish League champions against their League of Ireland counterparts for the good of the game here.
While Larne’s remarkable rise from the foot of the Championship in 2017 to becoming back to back Premiership winners and qualifying for the league phase of European competition is a fairytale for them, supporters of rival clubs have been negative towards their success and criticised the east Antrim side, who have been transformed due to the investment of millionaire owner Kenny Bruce and the management qualities of Lynch.
Indeed, throughout their historic European run, fans of clubs such as Linfield, Cliftonville and Glentoran have been passionately cheering on Larne’s opponents.
Asked if Lynch would welcome support from other Irish League supporters for the derby duel, the Larne boss said: “I think it’s a necessity. That’s definitely how they should be looking at this.
“I try never to get into the financials but Larne’s success of getting to the group stages not only helps the co-efficient of the whole League and the country but financially helps other clubs.
“It’s important, and roles will be reversed at some stage, it probably won’t always be Larne but I hope it is, that we have to get behind other clubs and we’ll have to support the League.
“The more we can turn it into a North v South for me the better, and the more we can roll our sleeves up and make sure this is a battle, and we can embrace that battle, that’s what we have to look at.
“There’s great interest in this game across the island of Ireland, it’s North v South, the champions of the Republic and the North and all that goes with it. There is that extra spice to it, absolutely.”