Tiernan Lynch keeping Larne grounded as they move top

The 2-0 win at Coleraine, their first victory at The Showgrounds since 2004, took them top of the table as we move towards December.

Lynch was quick to point out though that being top at Christmas doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be there at the end of the season!

“I wish it was the end of May,” he joked.

“Our job is to take every game as it comes. I know it’s a cliche and nobody wants to hear it, but it’s the big thing for us.

“If you look back at this time last year Cliftonville were top of the league at Christmas, so we won’t be reading into anything.

“Our job is to continue to work really hard every single day. Can we get better and stronger? I think we can. We will see where it takes us.”

On Saturday Larne had to show a different side to their game on a heavy pitch.

They got their team selection and tactics spot on and managed the game accordingly after going 2-0 up in the first half.

“This group of players are starting to get more belief about them and a bit more confidence,” said Lynch.

“We talk a lot about people thinking we’re a one-trick pony that we need a good pitch or we’re only good at home, and all those kinds of things.

“I think today was a good marker for us, mentally for ourselves to come down to places like this and grind out results.

“We knew we were coming to a place where we couldn’t play the football we want to play.

“That probably had a bigger influence on the team selection than the final.

“When the time was right though we got those players on the pitch.

“It’s not a performance people will look back on later in the season but it’s definitely one come the end of the season we will be thankful of.”

Striker David McDaid rightly took the plaudits for his two clinical finishes, and Lynch was full of praise for the front man.

“All credit goes to Davy. He is reaping his rewards on a Saturday for the amount of work he is doing Monday to Friday.

“He is the fittest he’s ever been, we now have him trimmed right down to his fighting weight.

“He’s playing with a lot of confidence at the moment and I think he will only get better.

“We work very hard on our fitness. Michael O’Boyle is outstanding at what he does.

“We monitor their diet and their body fat and every training schedule is planned physically as well as technically and tactically.

“Hopefully as the season goes on we will get more from them.”

Coleraine: Deane, Kane, Traynor, Douglas (McLaughlin 19), O’Donnell, Carson, Lowry, Jarvis (Nixon 75), Doherty, Glackin, Allen (Bradley 53). Subs: Gallagher, Wilson, Tweed, Parkhill.

Larne: Devlin, Cosgrove, Kelly, Robinson, Watson, A Mitchell (Scott 75), Sule, Hughes, Herron, McDaid, Hale (Donnelly 75). Subs: C Mitchell, Lynch, Murr, Wade Slater, McMurray.

Referee: Andrew Davey