Postpublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 3 October
Molde 0-0 Larne
Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI
Here we go. How are you feeling, Larne fans?
Summary
Molde v Larne (17:45 BST)
Magnus Wolff Eikrem scores opening goal in 51st minute
Ola Brynhildsen doubles Molde lead with 12 minutes to go
Conor McKendry sent off for Larne late on
Frederick Ihler adds third in injury time
Larne are the first Northern Irish team in Uefa competition proper
Postpublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 3 October
KICK-OFFpublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 3 October
Molde 0-0 Larne
Molde get us underway. Larne have already made history for the Irish Premiership.
Is there more to come tonight?
Nearly time!published at 17:43 British Summer Time 3 October
Molde v Larne (17:45 BST)
The players are on the pitch and it's almost time for Larne's history-making night in Norway...
'Shoot for the stars'published at 17:42 British Summer Time 3 October
Molde v Larne (17:45 BST)
There is no way to tell the story of Larne's rise without Kenny Bruce, the fan turned business man who has bankrolled the transformation.
"It's a historic moment and we're all super-proud as a club and a community," Bruce told BBC Sport NI.
"I don't think that anything should be off our radar. We should try our hardest as a football club to keep our feet on the floor but also shoot for the stars.
"Playing here in this wonderful stadium against a very, very good Norwegian side in Molde, we see the world being available to us."
Image source, InphoFinding formpublished at 17:39 British Summer Time 3 October
Molde v Larne (17:45 BST)
After their stunning comeback against the Red Imps, Larne's belated defence of the Gibson Cup somewhat stumbled out of the blocks.
The back-to-back champions took just one point from their opening two domestic games but normal service has since been resumed with four wins from their past five games.
Most recently in the Premiership, they came from behind at Solitude to beat Cliftonville 3-1.
Media caption, Watch: Larne fight back to beat 10-man Reds
'They gave us the taste for it'published at 17:36 British Summer Time 3 October
Molde v Larne (17:45 BST)
If one player can appreciate how quickly Larne have progressed in such a short space of time, it's surely skipper Tomas Cosgrove.
The defender played for the club in the Championship and admits it was only seeing Linfield going so close in 2022 that made him believe an Irish Premiership club could go this far in Europe.
"Someone said ‘did you think we’d ever be here?’. To be honest, no," the 31-year-old told BBC Sport NI in Norway.
"I didn’t think any Irish League team would be until I saw Linfield come close. They gave us the taste for it and luckily we got here."
Image source, InphoImage caption, Larne will be captained by Tomas Cosgrove in Norway
All you need to know!published at 17:34 British Summer Time 3 October
Molde v Larne (17:45 BST)
From Inver Park drama to Erling Haaland, BBC Sport NI's Andy Gray takes a look at Larne's historic night in the Uefa Conference League.
Media caption, All you need to know as Larne get ready for history
Not Molde's first time against NI oppositionpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 3 October
Molde v Larne (17:45 BST)
While Larne are making history for the Irish Premiership tonight, Molde have faced Northern Irish opposition in the not too distant past.
Indeed, when the Norwegian side faced Glenavon in the Europa League qualifiers in 2018, there were a few famous, or soon-to-be, famous faces on show.
The side were then managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and had a 17-year-old Erling Haaland up front...although it's fair to say the game likely hasn't lived too long in the mind of the man who went on to be the best striker in the world.
"I did try to wind him up, give him a wee bit off the ball, but it didn't bother him one bit," remembers Andrew Doyle, who marked Haaland that night for the Lurgan Blues.
"A proper professional, I suppose. I wouldn't say cool and calm, but you just didn't get a reaction out of him.
"He just looked at you to say, 'who are you?' sort of thing. Which was right - who am I?"
Image source, Pacemaker PressImage caption, Haaland was a few weeks shy of his 18th birthday when Molde played Glenavon
Postpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 3 October
Molde v Larne (17:45 BST)
Andy Gray
BBC Sport NIWhen Molde last faced Irish League opposition in 2018, Larne were still in the second tier.
Now, they are about to go where no other Irish Premiership side has ever gone before.
'It is great for the domestic league'published at 17:27 British Summer Time 3 October
Molde v Larne (17:45 BST)
Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill, who led Shamrock Rovers to the group stages of the Europa League in 2011, today named his squad for the Nations League double-header later this month and was asked about Larne's progress.
"It's a great night for the club, it is great for the domestic league here that we have a club playing in the group stages of a European competition," he said.
"It will be a tough game, Molde have a lot of European experience and it is a step up, when you come through the qualifiers the level of opposition changes, but I know Tiernan will have his team well organised and hopefully they can get something."
On Lynch following in the footsteps of David Healy by turning down an offer from Scotland to stay in the Irish League, O'Neill added: "The fact Larne are in European football brings attention to the league, we have seen that with players moving to Scotland and England so now for the managers and coaches to get the recognition for the hard work they do it brings positive attention to the league even if David and Tiernan have decided to stay."
Image source, Pacemaker PressPostpublished at 17:24 British Summer Time 3 October
Molde v Larne (17:45 BST)
Andy Gray
BBC Sport NIIt's hard to imagine how Larne's players are feeling right now.
There's been so much talk about them making history, and now their dreams are about to become a reality.
They'll be going through all their usual routines ahead of kick-off, but unlike their familiar fixtures around Northern Ireland, they're on the biggest stage of their careers.
Home where the heart ispublished at 17:21 British Summer Time 3 October
Molde v Larne (17:45 BST)
In the years before Larne was home to the Irish Premiership champions, the harbour town was perhaps best known for the ferry to Cairnryan.
But in the week when the Inver Park club will make history by taking part in the league phase of the Conference League, it is a crossing to Scotland that will not be made which has become the story.
In turning down the opportunity to take over the vacant post at St Johnstone, manager Tiernan Lynch became the second Irish Premiership boss, after Linfield's David Healy, to reject overtures from the SPFL in as many months.
BBC Sport looks at how the decisions have challenged assumptions in the domestic game and what it means for the seasons ahead.
Image source, BBC SportImage caption, David Healy's Linfield and Tiernan Lynch's Larne have accounted for the past six Irish Premiership titles
Team newspublished at 17:17 British Summer Time 3 October
Molde v Larne (17:45 BST)
Molde: Posiadala; Amundsen, Oyvann, Hagelskjaer; Linnes, Kaasa, Enggård, Breivik, Fjortoft Lovik; Brynhildsen, Wolff Eikrem (captain).
Subs: McDermott, Lund, Hestad, Ihler, Moller Daehli, Stenevik, Haugan, Eriksen, Granaas, Haugen, Nyheim, Odegard.
Larne: Ferguson; Todd, Cosgrove (captain), Want; Graham, Sloan, Marsh, Thomson, Ives; Ryan, McEneff.
Subs: Besant, McKendry, Randall, O'Neill, Magee, Seary, Bolger, Lusty.
Referee: Dario Bel (Croatia)
Image source, BBC SportShould I stay or should I go?published at 17:12 British Summer Time 3 October
Molde v Larne (17:45 BST)
The most high-profile game in Larne's history has been set against a backdrop of uncertainty over their manager's future.
Lynch was the subject of an approach from St Johnstone last week and there had been speculation that last week's win over Cliftonville was to be his last game in charge at the club.
But even after back-to-back Premiership titles and this European run, Lynch turned down the opportunity to move to the Scottish Premiership, citing "unfinished business" at Inver Park.
"We've been on a journey now for eight years that is probably unfinished. There was probably unfinished business here and we put that to bed and we move on."
Image source, InphoImage caption, Lynch has been Larne boss since 2017
Changed fortunes on and off the pitchpublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 3 October
Molde v Larne (17:45 BST)
Larne making Irish Premiership history this evening is all the more impressive when you consider where the club sat when Tiernan Lynch took charge in 2017.
Languishing near the bottom of the second tier, the combination of the manager Tiernan Lynch and new owner Kenny Bruce have taken Larne to the pinnacle of the game in Northern Ireland.
BBC Sport NI's Andy Gray has been taking a closer look at the club's incredible rise.
Image source, InphoImage caption, Larne have been transformed in recent years
History about to made!published at 16:57 British Summer Time 3 October
Molde v Larne (17:45 BST)
Hello and welcome to our live-text coverage of Larne's Conference League trip to Molde.
While Linfield came within a kick of a ball of doing so in 2022, no side from the Irish Premiership has ever made it through to the group stage (now known as the league phase) of a major Uefa competition.
Larne's dreams of doing so looked dashed when they were reduced to 10-men with 20 minutes to go in the second-leg of their qualifier against Lincoln Red Imps in August but striker Andy Ryan wrote His name into Inver Park folklore by scoring the winner, and completing his hat-trick, in the 83rd minute to send them through.
Today's game in Norway is the first of six in the league phase for the back-to-back Northern Irish champions and, while they will be considered underdogs in the competition, players and officials have spoken about not simply being content to have made it this far.
Image source, InphoImage caption, Andy Ryan's hat-trick saw Larne past the Lincoln Red Imps in the last qualifying round
Larne produced a strong defensive performance in the first half
Larne's historic European debut ended in defeat as Molde ran out 3-0 winners in the Uefa Conference League.
Tiernan Lynch's side were making history by becoming the first Irish Premiership team to play in the league stage of European competition.
It has been a remarkable rise for Larne, who were playing in the second tier in Northern Ireland five years ago and have built to become-back-to-back Irish Premiership champions.
Larne produced a strong opening 45 minutes on their European debut in Norway and frustrated Molde, who reached the last-16 of the Conference League last season.
However, their resolve was broken in the 51st minute when Molde captain Magnus Wolff Eikrem fired into the top corner from Kristian Eriksen's cut back.
Larne settled and showed more ambition as the game progressed, but Ola Brynhildsen got Molde's second with 12 minutes to play when Shaun Want's attempted tackle fell into the path of the forward, who kept his composure to curl an effort into the bottom corner.
There was a late blow for Larne when substitute Conor McKendry was shown a straight red card for a cynical tackle on Isak Amundsen, and the hosts capitalised when Frederik Ihler slotted home with the final kick of the game.
While Larne leave Norway empty handed, Lynch's call for his players to show they belong at this level were answered and they can take confidence from their European debut.
Lynch said he would feel huge amounts of pride as his players walked out on the pitch at the Aker Stadion to make history, and that feeling will only have been enhanced after a strong and disciplined opening 45 minutes.
It was a solid start to life in Europe for the underdogs, who restricted Molde to half chances as Larne held their shape and frustrated the hosts.
Molde did fire an early warning shot as the lively Brynhildsen dragged an effort off target and Amundsen headed harmlessly wide from a set piece.
The hosts' best attempt fell to Brynhildsen midway through the half, but Rohan Ferguson got a hand on his weak effort and Want hammered the ball away from danger.
As expected, Larne were pegged back in their own half for the majority of the match, and their only forays forward failed to find the clinical pass to create a chance.
Eikrem tried to catch out Ferguson with a 30-yard free-kick, but it was the travelling Larne fans, who arrived in Norway on a chartered flight to witness their side make history, who were the happiest set of supporters at half-time.
Eikrem breaks Larne's resolve
Larne fans were in fine voice as they travelled in their numbers to Norway
Molde came out of the blocks in the second half and almost took the lead two minutes after the restart after some neat link up play around the area, and Ferguson had to be alert to hack away the danger.
Larne had their first opportunity moments later when George Marsh blocked a Molde clearance and tried to set up Andy Ryan, but the striker, who scored a hat-trick in the play-off to fire his side to history, rushed his volley and it was well wide.
The hosts looked like a different team from the restart and took the lead when Eikrem fired into the top corner from Eriksen's cut back.
Larne looked to venture forward more after the opener and Sean Graham curled an effort straight at Albert Posiadala from the edge of the area, and the visitors had a huge let off when Brynhildsen blazed a volley over the bar from six yards.
Eikrem was the man making things happen and his powerful drive was tipped over by Ferguson, before Brynhildsen secured the win when he got a lucky bounce of the ball off Want, cut inside and curled an effort into the bottom corner.
Substitute Ihler struck the post for Molde in the closing stages, and Levi Ives had to scramble the ball off the line moments later as the hosts pressed for a third.
McKendry was dismissed in injury time for a wild hack on Amundsen and Ihler capitalised with a close-range finish in the final kick of the game.
Larne will have to reset when they face Dungannon Swifts on Sunday, and their next European fixture is at home to League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers on 24 October.
UEFA Conference League Scores & Fixtures
Thursday 3rd October
UEFA Conference League Table
On Thursday 3rd October
Skip to table keyMatch Participants:
- Molde, Position 5, Points 3
- Larne, Position 34, Points 0
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cercle Brugge | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
|
| 2 | Omonia Nicosia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
|
| 3 | Pafos | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
|
| 4 | Lugano | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
|
| 5 | Molde | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
|
| 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 7 | Vitória Guimarães | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|
| 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 9 | Noah | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
|
| 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 11 | Jagiellonia Białystok | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|
| 12 | Rapid Vienna | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|
| 13 | Heidenheim | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|
| 14 | Astana | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
|
| 15 | Legia Warszawa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
|
| 16 | Djurgården | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
|
| 17 | LASK | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
|
| 18 | APOEL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
| 19 | Panathinaikos | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
| 20 | Borac Banja Luka | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
| 21 | Shamrock Rovers | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
| 22 | Olimpija | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
|
| 23 | Dinamo Minsk | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
|
| 24 | København | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
|
| 25 | İstanbul Başakşehir | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
|
| 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| |
| 27 | TSC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
|
| 28 | Gent | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 0 |
|
| 29 | Celje | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
|
| 30 | Mladá Boleslav | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
|
| 31 | The New Saints | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
|
| 32 | Petrocub | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
|
| 33 | HJK | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
| 34 | Larne | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
| 35 | St.Gallen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 0 |
|
| 36 | Víkingur Reykjavík | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
|
Key
- Position 1 - 8 : 8th Finals
- Position 9 - 24 : Play-off
Team Lineups
home team, Molde
Manager: Erling Moe
Formation: 3 - 5 - 2
Pitch Formation
22, Posiadala, Goalkeeper
26, Amundsen, Defender
3, Øyvann, Defender
25, Hagelskjær, Defender
21, Linnes, Midfielder
15, Kaasa, Midfielder
10, Enggård, Midfielder
16, Breivik, Midfielder
31, Løvik, Midfielder
27, Brynhildsen, Striker
7, Eikrem, Striker
Starting lineup
- Number 22, A. Posiadała
- Number 25, A. Hagelskjær
- Number 3, C. Øyvann
- Number 26, I. Amundsen
- Number 31, M. Løvik
- Number 16, E. Breivik , substituted for K. Eriksen at 46 minutes
- Number 10, M. Enggård , Yellow Card at 88 minutes
- Number 15, M. Kaasa , substituted for M. Møller Dæhli at 66 minutes
- Number 21, M. Linnes , substituted for H. Stenevik at 46 minutes
- Number 7, M. Eikrem , Captain, Yellow Card at 72 minutes, substituted for E. Hestad at 80 minutes
- Number 27, O. Brynhildsen , substituted for F. Ihler at 80 minutes
Substitutes
home team, Molde
- Number 9, F. Ihler
- Number 20, K. Eriksen
- Number 23, S. Granaas
- Number 19, E. Haugan
- Number 28, K. Haugen
- Number 5, E. Hestad
- Number 29, G. Nyheim
- Number 4, V. Lund
- Number 34, S. McDermott
- Number 17, M. Møller Dæhli
- Number 33, N. Ødegård
- Number 18, H. Stenevik
away team, Larne
Manager: Tiernan Lynch
Formation: 5 - 4 - 1
Pitch Formation
1, Ferguson, Goalkeeper
11, Sean Graham, Wing Back
23, Cosgrove, Defender
2, Want, Defender
20, Todd, Defender
3, Ives, Wing Back
25, Sloan, Midfielder
6, Thomson, Midfielder
15, Marsh, Midfielder
16, McEneff, Midfielder
29, Ryan, Striker
Starting lineup
- Number 1, R. Ferguson
- Number 20, S. Todd , Yellow Card at 18 minutes
- Number 2, S. Want
- Number 23, T. Cosgrove , Captain
- Number 3, L. Ives
- Number 11, S. Graham
- Number 16, J. McEneff , substituted for C. McKendry at 79 minutes
- Number 15, G. Marsh , substituted for M. Randall at 79 minutes
- Number 6, J. Thomson
- Number 25, D. Sloan , substituted for B. Magee at 86 minutes
- Number 29, A. Ryan , substituted for M. Lusty at 86 minutes
away team, Larne
- Number 31, J. Besant
- Number 18, C. Bolger
- Number 30, M. Lusty
- Number 14, B. Magee
- Number 7, C. McKendry , Red Card at 90 minutes
- Number 9, P. O'Neill
- Number 8, M. Randall
- Number 17, J. Seary
home team, Molde
Manager: Erling Moe
Formation: 3 - 5 - 2
Pitch Formation
22, Posiadala, Goalkeeper
26, Amundsen, Defender
3, Øyvann, Defender
25, Hagelskjær, Defender
21, Linnes, Midfielder
15, Kaasa, Midfielder
10, Enggård, Midfielder
16, Breivik, Midfielder
31, Løvik, Midfielder
27, Brynhildsen, Striker
7, Eikrem, Striker
Starting lineup
- Number 22, A. Posiadała
- Number 25, A. Hagelskjær
- Number 3, C. Øyvann
- Number 26, I. Amundsen
- Number 31, M. Løvik
- Number 16, E. Breivik , substituted for K. Eriksen at 46 minutes
- Number 10, M. Enggård , Yellow Card at 88 minutes
- Number 15, M. Kaasa , substituted for M. Møller Dæhli at 66 minutes
- Number 21, M. Linnes , substituted for H. Stenevik at 46 minutes
- Number 7, M. Eikrem , Captain, Yellow Card at 72 minutes, substituted for E. Hestad at 80 minutes
- Number 27, O. Brynhildsen , substituted for F. Ihler at 80 minutes
Substitutes
- Number 9, F. Ihler
- Number 20, K. Eriksen
- Number 23, S. Granaas
- Number 19, E. Haugan
- Number 28, K. Haugen
- Number 5, E. Hestad
- Number 29, G. Nyheim
- Number 4, V. Lund
- Number 34, S. McDermott
- Number 17, M. Møller Dæhli
- Number 33, N. Ødegård
- Number 18, H. Stenevik
away team, Larne
Manager: Tiernan Lynch
Formation: 5 - 4 - 1
Pitch Formation
1, Ferguson, Goalkeeper
11, Sean Graham, Wing Back
23, Cosgrove, Defender
2, Want, Defender
20, Todd, Defender
3, Ives, Wing Back
25, Sloan, Midfielder
6, Thomson, Midfielder
15, Marsh, Midfielder
16, McEneff, Midfielder
29, Ryan, Striker
Starting lineup
- Number 1, R. Ferguson
- Number 20, S. Todd , Yellow Card at 18 minutes
- Number 2, S. Want
- Number 23, T. Cosgrove , Captain
- Number 3, L. Ives
- Number 11, S. Graham
- Number 16, J. McEneff , substituted for C. McKendry at 79 minutes
- Number 15, G. Marsh , substituted for M. Randall at 79 minutes
- Number 6, J. Thomson
- Number 25, D. Sloan , substituted for B. Magee at 86 minutes
- Number 29, A. Ryan , substituted for M. Lusty at 86 minutes
Substitutes
- Number 31, J. Besant
- Number 18, C. Bolger
- Number 30, M. Lusty
- Number 14, B. Magee
- Number 7, C. McKendry , Red Card at 90 minutes
- Number 9, P. O'Neill
- Number 8, M. Randall
- Number 17, J. Seary
- Referee:
- Dario Bel
- Video Assistant Referee:
- Fran Jovic
- Assistant Referee 1:
- Goran Pataki
- Assistant Referee 2:
- Ivan Janic
- Fourth Official:
- Ante Culina
- Assistant VAR Official:
- Ivan Matic
Match Officials
Match Stats
Key, Molde v LarneOverall Possession
Shots
Molde 17Larne 4Shots on target
Molde 9Larne 1Shots off target
Molde 5Larne 1Blocked shots
Molde 3Larne 2Total touches in the box
Molde 51Larne 2Goalkeeper saves
Molde 1Larne 4Fouls
Molde 12Larne 10Corners
Molde 7Larne 0Season so far
UEFA Conference League
Skip to form guideKey, Molde v Larne
League position, Molde 22nd, Larne 35thTotal points, Molde 3, Larne 0
Goals scored
Molde 4Larne 2Goals conceded
Molde 5Larne 9Shots
Molde 26Larne 9Shots on target
Molde 14Larne 5Shots off target
Molde 12Larne 4Blocked shots
Molde 7Larne 5Passing accuracy %
Molde 84.44Larne 73.51Form guide
All competitions
Skip back to season so farMolde won
v Tromsø
5
3
Eliteserien
Larne won
v Cliftonville
1
3
Premiership
Molde draw
v KFUM
1
1
Eliteserien
Larne won
v Loughgall
2
0
Premiership
Molde won
v Kristiansund
0
4
Eliteserien
Larne won
v Glentoran
2
0
Premiership
Molde won
v Fredrikstad
6
1
Eliteserien
Larne draw
v Glenavon
0
0
Premiership
Molde lose
v Rosenborg
2
1
Eliteserien
Larne won
v Linfield
0
1
Premiership