Larne striker Andy Ryan expressed his satisfaction after securing their third Irish Premiership title in four years following a “turbulent” season.
The Inver men reclaimed the Gibson Cup from Linfield with an impressive 8-0 victory over Dungannon Swifts on the final matchday.
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This triumph marks a strong conclusion to what has been a chaotic season for Larne, as manager Nathan Rooney departed after the first match, and club owner Kenny Bruce sold his 50% stake to the American firm Redball.
Ryan, who was sidelined with a knee injury for the first half of the season, commended the determination of both players and staff in achieving the title.
“We did half the job at the Oval last week and knew we had to complete the task today. Despite outside noise about potential outcomes, we maintained our focus throughout the season and delivered a professional performance,” he told BBC Sport NI.
“This season has been turbulent with the departure of the manager and Kenny leaving, but we’re a close-knit group, and we stood united as we did today to get the job done.”
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“It wasn’t just about the strikers; the entire squad contributed to this league win, as seen in our clean sheets as well. While teams win matches, it’s squads that secure championships, and that’s what has worked in our favor this year.”
The 31-year-old’s contract expires this summer, and he mentioned after the celebrations that he was uncertain about extending his fruitful three-and-a-half-year tenure with the club.
“I don’t know; this season has been turbulent for me,” he added. “My only focus has been on getting fit, and after that, it was about securing today’s victory. Whether I remain here next year or not, I wanted to ensure this club added another trophy. I’ll take a few weeks to be with my family and see what the future holds.”
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‘They underestimated what we have as a group’ – Haveron
After stepping in as interim manager in August, Gary Haveron’s success with Larne led to him being appointed permanent manager on a three-year contract in October.
Named Manager of the Year at the Northern Ireland Football League’s awards, Haveron described it as “really special” to lead his local team to a league title.
“I was born and raised in this town, and I understand what it means to me,” he stated. “We worked tirelessly all season; I didn’t start as the manager but ended up winning the title. These players and staff are exceptional. A lot of people doubted us, but they underestimated the strength of our group and community. More fool them.”
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“It has been gritty and resilient. We faced injuries to key players and suspensions at the season’s onset, but we knew that if we remained competitive, we could finish strong. The 18 unbeaten games were crucial. We gradually climbed to the top, and once we got there, we became the team to beat.”