CARRICK HOLD UP PARTY..

ON Friday night, all eyes will be on Championship leaders Larne playing host to holders Coleraine in the quarter-finals of the Irish Cup

The clash will be broadcast live at primetime on BBC Northern Ireland and it should be quite an occasion.

Larne’s Inver Park home is unrecognisable from 18 months ago when online estate agents Purplebricks co-founder and local businessman Kenny Bruce began his stream of investment into the club.

The ground is looking slick and modern, with hopes a new 600-seater stand at the Bleach Green End can be premiered on Friday evening.

Now boasting an artificial playing surface amid its upgrades, the ground will have a capacity in excess of 3,000 by the time renovation works are complete.

Such facilities are befitting of an Irish Premiership club and – barring a fanciful set of mathematics – that is what Larne will be next season.

They require just one point from their final six matches to clinch the Championship title and a first return to the top-flight since 2008.

“We are in a fantastic place – we probably couldn’t have written it any better – but the league’s not over until it’s over,” their boss Tiernan Lynch diplomatically explained after Saturday’s 2-0 win at H&W Welders.

“There was a bit of disappointment at the end when we realised Carrick [who occupy second spot] had won, but we can only do what we can do.”

Lynch, a former coach at Cliftonville and Glentoran, took the reins of the East Antrim club in the summer of 2017, replacing David Mcalinden.

The club had finished ninth in the 12-team second tier and had avoided a relegation play-off spot by just five points. Beset by financial restrictions, the club had a virtual overhaul of their playing staff and by the start of the 2017-18 campaign, were primarily reliant on youngsters under the age of 21.

The early days of the new regime were tough, with an opening day 3-0 home defeat by Portadown followed by a series of morale-sapping losses including a 6-1 defeat at H&W Welders.

Over the years, Larne encountered major issues with their Inver Park home while there were often strained relationships between board members and fans.

This was a fanbase accustomed to mediocrity, underachievement and low expectations.

There were times when they struggled to hit triple figures for homeattendances. But now the situation was turning. Bruce brought not only investment but a long-term vision to Larne, who began to attract established players.

Former Cliftonville goalkeeper Conor Devlin was signed, along with former Glentoran winger David Scullion. Bringing in players who had won the top prizes in Northern Irish football continued with a series of signings to arrive that January, chief among them the trio of Martin Donnelly, Tomas Cosgrove and David Mcdaid – all formerly at Solitude.

Former Derry City pair Shane Mceleney and Thomas Stewart also signed up, while former Northern Ireland international Jeff Hughes returned to Inver Park 13 years after

LARNE had to put the champagne back on ice on Saturday as their Championship title celebrations were delayed despite a 2-0 victory at H&W Welders.Benny Igiehon opened the scoring for Tiernan Lynch’s side at Tillysburn Park, while a David Mcdaid penalty made sure of the points.However, their coronation as league champions has not yet been made official due to Carrick’s stirring 3-2 comeback victory over Dundela.Niall Currie’s side will not catch their East Antrim neighbours – who lead the table by 18 points with six games remaining – but are firmly on course for a promotion play-off spot.Carl Mccomb and Tiarnan Mcnicholl struck either side of half-time for the Duns but three goals in 15 minutes earned a dramatic victory for Carrick.Caolan Loughran’s long-range strike pulled a goal back before Michael Smith’s equaliser was followed by a Loughran penalty to wrap up the points.The other clash in the top six saw third-placed Portadown lose ground on Carrick due to a 1-0 defeat at Ballinamallard – Richard Clarke’s first half penalty the difference between the sides.Dergview’s remarkable resurgence under boss Ivan Sproule continued on Saturday as their 2-1 victory over PSNI made it five Championship wins on the spin.Phillip Wallace and Andrew Sproule were both on target for the Castlederg side, with a strike from the PSNI’S Tony Tumelty sandwiched in between.Knockbreda rescued a point late on at Ballyclare after the Comrades took a first minute lead through defender RickyCopeland’s unfortunate own goal.Lee Forsythe’s men rescued a point in the 88th minute, while Ballyclare’s Ben Fry was dismissed late into stoppage time. The Comrades have just three victories from their last 10 outings.Limavady are now eight points adrift at the foot of the table – and have just one victory from their last 10 matches – following their3-1 home defeat against Loughgall.Peter Campbell, Ben Neill and Andrew Hoey were on target for Dean Smith’s men, while Brian Mcclean was sent off in the first half for the Lims who pulled a consolation goal back later through Alex Pomeroy. HE’S SPOT-ON David Mcdaid celebrates with teammates after his penalty against the Welders SCOTT HIM! Welders’ Scott Mcmillan challenges Larne’s David Mcdaid in Saturday’s game GUIDING LIGHTS Owner Kenny Bruce and chairman Gareth Clements are preparing for promotion