Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
UNDERDOG TAG SUITS TIERNAN & HIS HEROES
TIERNAN LYNCH insists Larne will relish their underdog status in the last four of the Tennent’s Irish Cup after stunning Ballymena United in Tuesday night’s quarter-finals.
The unfancied Inver Park men defeated David Jeffrey’s Braidmen 2-1 to book a daunting semi-final date with high-flying Coleraine on March 31.
The Bluefin Sports Championship side will be huge outsiders to beat the Bannmen who are locked in a title race with Crusaders at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership.
But Lynch said: “We were underdogs against Ballymena and we’ll be underdogs against Coleraine. Nobody will fancy us to get to the final but that’s the way we want it.
“To win trophies you have to beat the best teams. That’s our mentality. We’ll do our homework on Coleraine and set ourselves up over the next couple of weeks to be ready for that game.”
Incredibly, Larne – who have never won the Irish Cup and last featured in the showpiece in 2005 when they lost 5-1 to Portadown – are one of two Championship clubs in the semis.
Loughgall, who shocked Glenavon 2-1, have been drawn to face Cliftonville who beat holders Linfield 1-0 a Windsor Park.
“I don’t think anyone would have foreseen two Championship clubs in the last four,” said Lynch. “It would certainly be a nice final but we’ll worry about the semi-final first.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be in the semis and once you reach this stage, everyone is aiming to reach the final. There are no bad teams at this stage so we’ll just take what comes our way.
“We’re one game away from the final and I’m just so proud of the players and how they grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half.”
Ballymena, who have now lost five of their last six games in all competitions, were ahead at the break thanks to Tony Kane’s 33rd minute penalty.
But Lynch changed tactics in the second period and a Kyle Owens own goal and Thomas Stewart header turned the tie on its head.
Lynch said: “We got it wrong in the first half. We played it a little bit longer and tried to get in behind Ballymena. I take full responsibility for the first half performance.
“We got the players in at half-time and changed it. We said, ‘Let’s get back to what we’re good at’.”