Irish Premiership: Captaining Larne to title would be ‘massive honour’ – Tomas Cosgrove

Last season, Larne finished second in the table – some 22 points behind runaway leaders Linfield.

David Healy’s side were so far in front, Larne were actually closer to Glenavon in 10th than the title-winning Blues.

But if was the off-season action that seemed to put Larne off the radar.

In the off season owner Kenny Bruce, the man behind the club’s transformation from the Championship to champions, handed over the reins of the club to new investors.

Then, after his false start as Larne boss the previous year while he sorted his coaching qualifications, Nathan Rooney left his role as manager after just one game of the season.

Gary Haveron, as he did the year before, stepped into the breach, and would be rewarded with the permanent job.

It all led to an unclear outlook at the club, certainly to the outside, and Cosgrove said the doubts over the club were “motivation” throughout the season.

The defender added that there were “lots of rumbles and grumbles”, but it was up to the experienced players to guide the squad on the pitch.

The older heads really came to the fore in the season run in, when their double-digit lead was slashed to just three points, yet they showed enough resolve to head into the final day in control.

“It’s probably had nothing to do with the players and stuff, it was probably just all the background noise going on,” Cosgrove said on why he feels the club were overlooked going into the season.

“I had heard everything, with Kenny leaving and the bubble had burst, and the fans were staying away.”

“But you’ve seen everyone. When you do well, everyone does come out and wants to see a big game.”