Irish Premiership: How the league’s long-term European hopes rest with Larne

Despite dropping out of the top 50, all is not lost for Northern Ireland.

However, they will need Larne to qualify for the league phase of the Conference League, as they famously did in 2024, and also put in a decent performance.

In the final qualifying round, either Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar or Cyprus side Omonia stand in their way.

In the league phase, a club will pick up two points for a win and one point for a draw. This is halved for results in qualifying rounds.

It is also important to remember that the Irish League’s total at the end of the season will be divided by four.

Should Larne reach the league phase, then they would earn a bonus 0.125 points for each position gained in the overall rankings, which adds extra incentive.

It is also out of Larne’s hands to an extent, as the teams above Northern Ireland can also pick up more points as they all have at least one team in contention in Europe.

Estonia are best placed with two of their four teams still in contention, while Malta – although further ahead – are the nearest team without a club still in Europe.

While the rest of the league will be looking at the Inver Park side, manager Gary Haveron was not feeling pressure to deliver for the league.

“Is it extra responsibility? No, I don’t feel like it is,” Haveron told BBC Sport after the first leg of the game with Iberia 1999, which ended in a goalless draw before the Georgian’s extra-time win in Tbilisi.

“We will go out and try our absolute damnedest, but I would say that about any game that Larne play in.

“If everybody benefits and every club can benefit from it, then I’m only too glad to do it.”