'European dream has come true' - goal hero Ryan

Larne's hat-trick leader Andy Ryan says his broadside showed "grit and determination" erstwhile they overturned a 2 extremity shortage to triumph 4-3 connected aggregate against Lincoln Red Imps to advancement to nan group shape of nan Uefa Conference League.

The Gibraltar champions came into nan 2nd limb pinch a one-goal advantage aft defeating nan Inver Reds 2-1 successful Portugal 7 days previous, past doubled their lead successful nan opening 20 minutes of nan 2nd leg.

However Ryan's hat-trick helped Larne constitute their sanction successful nan history book arsenic nan first Irish League squad to ever make nan group stages of a European competition.

"I had visions of it [Larne progressing to nan group stages] and nan gaffer sold maine this dream and coming this dream came true," Ryan told BBC Sport NI.

"Character and togetherness, we person that successful abundance. Everyone tin spot we are a bully broadside but we person that grit and determination."

Ryan, who had ne'er scored successful a European fixture earlier this game, coolly slotted location 2 spot-kicks and converted a superb walk from Benji Magee to make judge it was nan Inver Reds who would advancement to nan group phase.

"I'd emotion to put it [the lucifer ball] connected my mantelpiece, but my boy will beryllium watching backmost location and I'm judge he'll beryllium trying to return it!"

Club proprietor Kenny Bruce took complete nan then-Championship outfit successful September 2017 and has helped shape a monolithic turnaround pinch nan nine transforming from a struggling Championship to back-to-back Irish Premiership champions and history makers.

"He [Kenny Bruce] was present agelong earlier I came successful and he put nan foundations successful spot and everything was geared towards nights for illustration this," said Ryan.

"We person sewage there, we earned it. I would besides emotion immoderate large names, but whoever we do get it is important to bask it and besides definitive ourselves."