Irish Premiership: Larne go second after comeback win against Linfield

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Larne come from behind to beat Linfield

Jana McCabe

BBC Sport NI contributor

Larne leapfrogged Glentoran into second place after they came from behind to put to an end Linfield's six-game unbeaten run with a 2-1 win at Inver Park.

It was a dream first league start for Kalum Thompson, who gave the champions the lead in the 31st minute before Andy Ryan levelled the game in the second half.

The comeback was complete with two minutes left as Conor McKendry became the second substitute on the scoresheet when he rifled home the winner.

The result means that the battle for second place, and automatic European qualification, will be decided on the final day next week when Larne host Glentoran.

However, the Glens could move back into second position if they defeat Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park on Saturday.

Larne fight back for valuable three points

Conor McKendry celebrates scoring — Image caption,
McKendry, as he did at Windsor Park in September, scored the winner for Larne against Linfield

During a first half of few chances, Larne had a big opportunity to break the deadlock in the 14th minute when Ryan Nolan nodded Sean Graham's deep corner back for Shaun Want, whose header pinged off the crossbar.

Linfield broke the deadlock with their first chance of the game when teenager Thompson fired home the rebound from Rhys Annett's shot, which had been palmed away by Rohan Ferguson.

The home side had a huge opportunity to level just before the break. Stopper David Walsh came off his line to try thwart a Larne chance, but misjudged Tiarnan O'Connor's header.

The loose ball then fell to O'Connor, with Sam Roscoe making a crucial clearance off the line to deny the striker.

After the restart, Kieran Offord tried to give Linfield a more comfortable lead, but his shot was blocked by Cian Bolger before the striker sent a curling effort just wide shortly after.

Walsh was then called into action to thwart O'Connor's strike after he had burst into the box.

Larne levelled the game in the 79th minute when the unmarked Ryan fired home Cricky Gallagher's low delivery past the outstretched Walsh.

Gary Haveron's side took the lead on 88 minutes when Linfield failed to clear Mark Randall's corner which eventually fell to McKendry, whose first-time finish found the top left-hand corner.

Linfield continued to push for a leveller until the final whistle with the away fans shouting for a penalty when Offord fell under the challenge of Tomas Cosgrove, but the appeals were waved away.

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Difference	Points	Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first
1 Linfield	37	27	4	6	69	27	42	85	Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Loss
2 Larne	37	17	11	9	46	33	13	62	Result Draw Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Win
3 Glentoran	36	17	9	10	47	34	13	60	Result Draw Result Draw Result Loss Result Win Result Loss Result Win
4 Coleraine	36	14	10	12	54	47	7	52	Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Loss
5 Dungannon Swifts	36	15	6	15	47	46	1	51	Result Win Result Draw Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss
6 Crusaders	36	15	6	15	44	52	-8	51	Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Difference	Points	Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first
1 Cliftonville	36	16	7	13	54	38	16	55	Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Win
2 Portadown	36	14	8	14	44	44	0	50	Result Win Result Draw Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Win
3 Ballymena United	36	14	5	17	46	50	-4	47	Result Loss Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Loss Result Draw
4 Glenavon	36	10	10	16	36	47	-11	40	Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss
5 Carrick Rangers	36	7	10	19	30	53	-23	31	Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Win Result Draw
6 Loughgall	36	5	6	25	33	79	-46	21	Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Loss

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Difference	Points	Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first
1 Linfield	33	24	4	5	61	23	38	76	Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Loss
2 Larne	33	15	9	9	39	28	11	54	Result Draw Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Win
3 Glentoran	33	15	9	9	40	31	9	54	Result Draw Result Draw Result Loss Result Win Result Loss Result Win
4 Dungannon Swifts	33	15	5	13	44	40	4	50	Result Win Result Draw Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss
5 Crusaders	33	15	5	13	41	43	-2	50	Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss
6 Coleraine	33	13	10	10	49	41	8	49	Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Loss
7 Cliftonville	33	13	7	13	44	37	7	46	Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Win
8 Portadown	33	13	7	13	39	38	1	46	Result Win Result Draw Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Win
9 Ballymena United	33	13	4	16	40	42	-2	43	Result Loss Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Loss Result Draw
10 Glenavon	33	10	9	14	35	43	-8	39	Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss
11 Carrick Rangers	33	6	9	18	24	48	-24	27	Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Win Result Draw
12 Loughgall	33	4	6	23	29	71	-42	18	Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Loss

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Larne fight back for valuable three points

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