Irish Cup - Final | Larne V Linfield

T I E R N A N L Y N C H

T H E M A N A G E R

Tiernan Lynch will be a proud man when he leads out Larne in tonight's Sadler's Peaky Blinder Irish Cup final against Linfield at Mourneview Park.

Appointed Larne boss in 2017, Lynch has taken the Co Antrim team from the Championship to the Irish Premiership, helped make them a force to be reckoned with in the top flight and inspired them to trophy success earlier this season when winning the County Antrim Shield. Guiding the Inver Park outfit to Irish Cup glory though would top the lot. Before this year Larne had been to five finals losing every one. Lynch would love to make history for owner Kenny Bruce and everyone

over Crusaders, which Larne won 6-5 after the teams were locked at 1-1 following 90 minutes, Lynch says he looked away as penalties were taken and re-taken and opposition goalkeeper Jonny Tuffey was sent off. "I didn't really watch any of the penalties. I don't know why I didn't watch them. I guess I thought what's going to be at that stage is going to be," said Lynch.

"I stood at the dug-out and looked up at the stands. I could get a sense of what went on but the biggest thing for me was that I was super proud of my players. I thought they were outstanding. The club has been pushing for finals and this is where we want to be and this squad has got us there. "They have to enjoy the

connected to the club. "The final will be very

special. We have never won it before and there is a lot of history that goes with it," said Lynch. "We still might not win it but being there is a proud moment for everyone at the club, our owner (Kenny

occasion of getting there and we are looking forward to the final." On the semi-final action prior to spot-kicks in which Larne's Ronan Hale levelled Philip Lowry's deadlock breaker for Crusaders prior to Seaview star Adam Lecky being sent off with 75 minutes on the clock, Lynch said: "We were horrific in the first half and didn't string two passes together and looked all over the place. “We regrouped at half-time, made one or two changes and I thought we were superb. No disrespect to Crusaders at all but I thought we should have won the game in 90 minutes."

Bruce), our staff and our board, our chairman (Gareth Clements) and our general manager (Niall Curneen) and our fans." Trying to keep a lid on his emotions, Lynch added: "This is a big step for us and a big statement for us to reach the final. Just getting there is very emotional and if we win I'll let myself go. "We still haven't achieved anything and have to be careful in what we do and what we say. It's there for us and we need to keep working hard." While most of those inside Mourneview Park on Tuesday for the cup semi-final couldn't take their eyes off the dramatic penalty shoot-out victory

Words: Steven Beacom

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