Larne manager Tiernan Lynch said he felt mixed emotions after his side’s UEFA Conference League showdown against Swiss side St. Gallen.
A second half goal from Hugo Vandermersch saw the visitors secure a slender 2-1 win at Windsor Park.
Larne took an early lead through an Abdoulaye Diaby own goal but St Gallen skipper Lukas Görtler levelled before the break.
The Invermen fought like tigers to snatch a point but the Swiss side inflicted a third straight loss on them after their defeats to Norwegian team Molde and Shamrock Rovers.
“I do have mixed emotions,” said Lynch. “I’m hugely proud of their performance, the effort and commitment.
“We let ourselves down against Shamrock Rovers and it wasn’t a true reflection of ourselves and the League. Our job tonight was to try and put that right and show there is more about us – I felt we did that.
“The other side of it is we are hugely disappointed we didn’t hold on. The second goal we conceded, there were moments leading up to it we could and should have done better but it’s a learning curve for us as we keep saying.
“We will look at it and hopefully it will stand by us.”
Larne, the first Irish Premiership team to reach this stage of European competition, held their own against the Swiss side for much of the game but 11 minutes before the end, Vandermersch converted after a blistering counter attack.
It was tough to take for the Invermen as a first point at this level of European football eluded them.
“The early goal settled us and I thought at times we got into good areas. Overall I’m hugely proud of them,” said Lynch.
“It’s only our third game in this group stage and I hope we are getting closer. That’s what we are striving for. It feels like we are closer. St. Gallen are a top side but I never felt like we were holding on.
“We could have been more clinical on the counter attack but I’m pleased.
“They are disappointed, which is a great sign, they are talking about areas where we could be better and they are learning. We took a bit of a pasting the last time but hopefully that has galvanised us and we can build on this.”
St Gallen manager Enrico Maassen praised Larne and backed them to come back stronger.
“We expected a physically hard team that might try long balls,” he said.
“They worked hard in the game. It’s a new experience for them, like ourselves in these environments, and they were good at protecting their goal. Every game at this level is good for the development of both teams and it pushes them forward.”
Larne now face a trip to Olimpija in Slovenia and Belarus outfit Dinamo Minsk, before a final home match with Gent.
‘The Ni Football Fund will not be a carve up in any shape or form’- NIFL Chief Executive Gerard Lawlor
