Irish League European play-off semi-finals: Larne beat Glenavon 2-1 with last-gasp winner

Larne kept their hopes of a first ever appearance in European club competition very much alive as they secured a last-gasp 2-1 home win over Glenavon.

Martin Donnelly dramatically curled home the winner three minutes into added time in their Europa Conference League play-off semi-final on Tuesday.

Daniel Purkis had given Glenavon a fifth-minute lead but David McDaid equalised three minutes later.

Larne will play Cliftonville in Saturday's final at Inver Park.

The north Belfast team controversially defeated Crusaders 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the tie at Solitude had ended goal-less after extra-time.

• Cliftonville beat Crusaders in controversial shootout

• Re-live a dramatic night of European play-off action as it unfolded

"It was a wee bit of brilliance from Marty to get us over the line. He was calm and composed and slotted it in the corner," said Larne manager Tiernan Lynch after the game.

"Glenavon have to be given great credit. They really came and gave it a go and played it like a cup final, which it was for both teams.

"All credit to our boys - we kept going to the end and we had that little bit of belief.

"We conceded a bad goal and Glenavon made it difficult for us - we didn't really play the football we wanted but we did what we needed to do."

Having finished fourth in the Irish Premiership, three places above their opponents, Larne went into the game as favourites but the game proved to be an evenly contested affair, with both clubs aware of the financial implications of joining Linfield, Coleraine and Glentoran as the Irish League's representatives in Europe.

Purkis had the simple task of heading home unmarked from close range after Larne had failed to deal adequately with a corner.

The Lurgan Blues' lead was short-lived however as McDaid fired in the rebound low into the bottom corner after Ronan Hale's effort had been cleared off the line.

The home side passed up a gilt-edged chance to net the winner when Hale skewed a left-foot drive wide of the post but that proved to be inconsequential as Donnelly rifled home late on.

The former Cliftonville winger started the move on the left, Andrew Mitchell delivered the ball into the area and Conor McKendry provided the pass for Donnelly to drill the ball into the net.

Scenes of jubilation followed among the home supporters while Glenavon players looked crestfallen.

Gary Hamilton's side's wait for a first appearance in Europe since 2018 continues.

"I'm gutted for the boys. I thought they were superb from the first minute to the last and they didn't deserve that," said Hamilton.

"They were a credit to each other and to the club."