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Steven Crawford

Larne FC: Five games which helped secure the league title for the Invermen

Larne have been crowned Danske Bank Premiership champions.

Tiernan Lynch's side secured the title thanks to a 2-0 win over Crusaders on Friday night.

Here we pick out five games which played a big part in the Invermen securing the Gibson Cup for the very first time in their history.

Read more: Jamie Conlan on handling brother's abuse, online trolls and 'a******* opinions'


Friday 14 October
Larne 4 Cliftonville 0


Larne showed their title credentials with this impressive 4-0 win over last season's runners-up.

Paul O'Neill gave the Invermen a first half lead before they made the extra man count after the break following Sean Moore's dismissal for the Reds in the 50th minute.

Lee Bonis helped himself to a six-minute hat-trick as Tiernan Lynch's men showed they deserved to be at the top of the league.

Lee Bonis bagged a hat-trick (©INPHO/Stephen Hamilton)



Saturday 22 October
Linfield 2 Larne 4


A week after seeing off Cliftonville, Larne showed their title intentions by going to Windsor Park and putting four past the reigning champions.

The visitors raced into an early lead as goals from Ben Doherty and Paul O'Neill put them 2-0 up before Cammy Palmer reduced the arrears as half time approached.

Larne though kicked on again as Bonis and Leroy Millar made it 4-1 before Ethan Devine's late consolation.

Ben Doherty celebrates scoring a penalty (©INPHO Brian Little)



Saturday 18 February
Larne 2 Cliftonville 1


With things nip and tuck at the top of the league Larne picked up another huge win to open up a three points gap over second placed Cliftonville.

Leroy Millar fired the hosts in front just past the half hour before the Reds were reduced to 10 men at Inver Park for the second time this season as Jamie McDonagh was dismissed.

Andy Ryan doubled Larne's lead with 15 minutes to go before Jonny Addis set up a grandstand finish as he halved the deficit in the 82nd minute, but the Invermen held on to go clear at the top.

Andrew Ryan celebrates his goal (©INPHO/Jonathan Porter)



Friday 7 April
Larne 2 Glentoran 0


Questions were being asked of Larne as they were dumped out of the Irish Cup by Ballymena United and the gap at the top of the league was cut by Linfield.

But the Invermen answered the doubters in style with an impressive display to blow Glentoran away in the first half at Inver Park.

Micheál Glynn and Lee Bonis put the hosts in control and they never looked like relinquishing their advantage.
The win saw Tiernan Lynch's extend their lead to seven points and put them in the box seat again.

Larne’s Michael Glynn celebrates his goal against Glentoran (©INPHO/Jonathan Porter)



Tuesday 11 April
Cliftonville 0 Larne 2


Larne knew that with Linfield playing until 24 hours later they could move themselves to the brink of the title with victory over Cliftonville.

It was another impressive display by the Invermen who took the game to the Reds from the off.

Lee Bonis notched another goal to give them the lead at the break before January signing Joe Thomson made sure of the points in the second half.

Larne had done their job and only needed a point from their last three games to secure the Gibson Cup.

Larne players celebrate after Lee Bonis' goal (©INPHO/Jonathan Porter)

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