Lynch urges Larne to achieve European 'utopia'

Uefa Conference League play-off 2nd leg: Larne v Lincoln Red Imps

Date: Thursday, 29 August Venue: Inver Park, Larne Kick-off: 20:00 BST

Coverage: Watch connected BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app; unrecorded matter updates, report, highlights & guidance connected BBC Sport website & app.

Larne leader Tiernan Lynch has urged his players to execute their "utopia" successful Thursday's Uefa Conference League play-off 2nd limb against Lincoln Red Imps.

The Irish Premiership champions big nan Gibraltarians connected nan backmost of a 2-1 conclusion successful past week's first limb successful Faro.

In summation to nan important financial reward connected offer, Larne are aiming to go nan first Irish Premiership squad to scope nan group shape of a awesome European competition.

And Lynch, who has taken nan Inver Park nine from nan bottommost half of nan Championship to nan apical of nan Irish League pyramid during his seven-year spell successful charge, has urged his players to "embrace" and "enjoy" nan occasion.

"This is going to sound arrogant and cocky and I surely don't mean it to be, but we person dreamt astir this and talked astir this," said Lynch.

"When we started this travel 8 years ago, this was utopia for us. Could we ever get a squad connected nan transportation that could do thing for illustration this?

"Again, it's very important we don't get carried away. We're 90 minutes plus, possibly extra-time and penalties, distant from it. Our large interest is making judge we get nan occupation astatine manus done and get nan process correct to springiness america each chance."

Larne, who hit Kosovan broadside Ballkani connected penalties to scope this stage, took nan lead successful Faro past week courtesy of Matthew Lusty's superb 16th-minute strike.

But they were incapable to stave disconnected a fightback from nan Imps, who turned nan necktie successful their favour pinch goals from Kike Gomez and Joe.

And while Lynch hopes to spot his broadside energised by their location fans connected Thursday, he admits location is "still a immense magnitude to beryllium done" if Larne are to unafraid their spot successful Friday's draw.

"They're a squad that person I deliberation 8 aliases 9 internationals and they've played against bigger and amended guidance than america before," added Lynch.

"I don't deliberation this is simply a foregone conclusion by immoderate stage. If we're fortunate capable to travel retired of this connected nan correct end, we've a immense magnitude of activity connected our hands."

While qualifying for nan Conference League would gain Larne a sizeable financial windfall, Lynch insists that has had nary base connected his side's preparations.

"We don't get into that. That's astir apt a different question and reply you request to have.

"Mine's astir what we request to do to triumph a shot game. Regardless of whether it's £2m, £10m aliases £15m, we're going to hole nan nonstop aforesaid way.

"I deliberation from nan players' perspective, it's a prestige thing, that opportunity to spell and play successful what could beryllium nan biggest shape for them. That's very overmuch their motivation."

Lynch added: "This is why we've worked arsenic difficult arsenic we've worked. To get ourselves successful positions for illustration this and we're expecting a afloat location and a noisy crowd and now we person to spell and deliver."

Having made their debuts disconnected nan chair successful past week's defeat, caller signings Jordan McEneff and Benji Magee could make their first starts for Larne, but Sam Todd, Josh Seary and George Marsh - each of whom joined this week - are unavailable.