Larne champions again: The key games and players which secured back-to-back titles

Larne have created more history becoming the first provincial club to retain the Irish Premiership title since Portadown in 1989-90 and 1990-91.

Victory over Coleraine at Inver Park sealed back-to-back titles for the Invermen to cap another incredible season for Tiernan Lynch's men. Here we take a look at some of the key matches and players which have helped bring the Gibson Cup back to Inver Park once again.

KEY GAMES

Larne 2 Linfield 0 [Friday 15 September, 2023]

The first league meeting of the season between the top two was always going to lay down a marker and it was Larne who came out on top.

Paul O'Neill's early goal rewarded the hosts for a bright start, but they had goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson to thank for keeping their lead intact as he denied Chris McKee with two big saves.

That proved vital as Andy Ryan wrapped up the points for Larne midway through the second half.

Linfield 1 Larne 2 [Saturday 11 November, 2023]

Larne showed their mettle once again going to Windsor Park and coming back from a goal down to grab a vital win which saw them cut Linfield's lead to five points.

Joel Cooper fired the Blues in front inside 15 minutes but a superb long-range effort from Mark Randall levelled matters nine minutes later.

Ten minutes into the second half Larne found their winner when Joe Thomson glanced home Levi Ives' cross.

Ballymena United 0 Larne 1 [Saturday 17 February, 2024]

It wasn't a game for the purists but it was all about the three points as Larne took the honours in the east Antrim derby on a difficult pitch at Ballymena Showgrounds.

Lee Bonis' eighth minute header sealed the win but the Invermen had to dig in to secure victory and move three points clear at the top of the league.

Cliftonville 0 Larne 2 [Tuesday 2 April, 2024]

A few questions had been asked about Larne after Cliftonville dumped them out of the Irish Cup three days before, but they answered those critics with a 2-0 win at Solitude.

Andy Ryan found the net via a deflection off Luke Kenny early on before the Scottish striker made sure of the points with a typically composed finish on the hour mark.

Glentoran 1 Larne 2 [Tuesday 16 April, 2024]

As we moved into stoppage time it looked like Larne would be playing catch-up in the title race, but all was to change in the final minute.

Andy Ryan gave the visitors a first half lead before Cian Bolger put through his own net with just over half an hour to go.

It looked like the Invermen would have to settle for a point until Johnny Russell's unfortunate own goal in the dying seconds coupled with Linfield's draw with Coleraine saw Larne extend their lead at the top.

KEY PLAYERS

ROHAN FERGUSON

What a season the goalkeeper has had. Ferguson has been an integral part of Larne's watertight defence, which has only conceded 21 goals with four of them coming in the first game of the season.

CIAN BOLGER

Sir Alex Ferguson once said "attack wins you games, defence wins you titles", and that could certainly be the case for Larne.

The Invermen have been miserly this campaign and conceded only four times in the league this calendar year. Cian Bolger has been an integral component in that and the captain has led by example all season.

LEE BONIS & ANDY RYAN

What a partnership these two have formed at Larne. Not only have they continuously found the net all season but they have also produced numerous assists along the way. They are a handful for any defence they come up against with their guile and goal threat.

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