Glentoran boss Mick McDermott expects a “100 mile an hour” scrap with Larne in Friday night’s big-money European play-off final at the BetMcLean Oval.
Not only is prestige at stake in East Belfast, the winners are guaranteed at least £200,000 if they book their place in the first qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.
Tonight’s opponents Larne went through two rounds of last season’s competition, beating Bala Town and Aarhus, and pocketed in the region of £725,000 in the process.
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The financial incentives on offer are huge for local clubs, making tonight’s showdown one of the most lucrative of the domestic calendar.
“We know we haven’t had a great season in terms of trophies and we expected to win something, but Europe is a big incentive for us,” said McDermott.
“Listen we’d still be disappointed as a club because we are here to win things, but at the start of the season the target is always to qualify for Europe.
“It’s big for us in terms of prestige, the recruitment of players and of course the finances on offer, especially if you go on and win a round or two. That’s the key.
“If you win a round, as we did in 2020 when we beat Torshavn, you can end up with half a million. Larne ended up with 750 grand last season. That makes a difference.
“You start the season chasing a trophy and hoping to qualify for Europe and Larne are the same as us, but unfortunately one of us is going to miss out.”
While the Glens, who beat Glenavon 2-0 in Tuesday night’s semi-final, boast home advantage, they have yet to beat Larne in five meetings in all competitions this season.
The Inver Reds, who overcame Coleraine midweek, are the only top-flight side who have yet to lose to the Big Two giants across the 2021/22 campaign.
“It’s always been a close game between us and Larne are a talented team,” said McDermott. “When you look at what they’ve done over the last five years, it has been great for the league and they’ll be hungry to beat us. But it’ll be the same for us.
“Larne will come out as they always do; 100 mile an hour, moving the ball well and looking to create chances. If we’re not at the top of our game, we won’t win.
“The players are ready and I don’t think any motivation will be needed. If they apply themselves the way we know they can, we can get a positive result.”
Larne boss Tiernan Lynch, who masterminded the East Antrim club’s first ever European campaign last summer, hopes to repeat the feat in the weeks ahead.
“We know the financial rewards on offer but as a team and manager it’s all about the experience of playing against European opposition,” said Lynch.
“Last year our fans also didn’t really get a chance to travel because of Covid and get the full European experience, so hopefully we can give them that experience this year.”
Friday night's game has a 7.45pm kick-off.
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