Larne first team coach Gary Haveron praised how the Invermen “came out fighting and got what we deserved in the end” in Friday’s 3-1 win over Cliftonville at Solitude.
The back-to-back champions trailed 1-0 at the break as a result of Rory Donnelly’s goal but battled back after the interval with Tomas Cosgrove’s equaliser, an Andy Ryan penalty and Paul O’Neill’s goal.
“At half-time the gaffer didn’t miss them. He made it clear that the first half was nothing like us, but the second half, that first 15 minutes, was exactly what he asked for – that hunger, that desire, getting forward and getting after them and we blew them away in that first 15 minutes,” said Haveron.
The former Carrick Rangers and Glentoran manager found it difficult to provide an explanation for Larne’s under-par showing in the first 45 minutes.
“It’s hard to put your finger on it, we have played a lot of games in a short period of time and there were big changes made from Tuesday night but we were lacklustre, they were hungrier and first to every ball and caused us problems.
“But that is why we are champions – we picked ourselves up off the canvass, came out fighting and got what we deserved in the end.”