Photo: Pacemaker
Larne’s European adventure came to an end as FC Ballkani won comfortably at Solitude in the second leg of the Conference League Second Qualifying Round on Thursday.
The Kosovan Champions ran out 4-1 winners at Solitude and 7-1 on aggregate as the Invermen as attention now turns to the beginning of the league season on Monday evening.
Larne were missing Ulster Football of the Year, Leroy Millar, as well as two of their regular back three in the form of Shaun Want and Cian Bolger.
Having come into this one 3-0 down from the away leg, it made a huge task an even greater one, with Tiernan Lynch able to name just six subs on his bench.
Despite this, Larne started the game on the front foot and had a great chance to take the lead on 15 minutes. A long ball from Rohan Ferguson made its way to Lee Bonis all the way in the opposite penalty box but he just couldn’t steer his effort past the advancing Ehea Kolici.
However, any lingering hopes Larne had were killed off on 28 minutes. After giving the ball away in midfield the visitors made them pay in ruthless fashion.
Albion Rrahmani, on as an early substitute, raced down the left and pulled the ball back for Nazmi Gripshi to sweep home from 12 yards.
Like the first tie Ballkani added a quickfire second to make sure the second half would be as comfortable as it could be for the Kosovans.
Rrahmani was once again the provider as Larne unsuccessfully tried to play Gripshi offside and he raced clear into the box to fire home his second of the night and third of the tie.
Unfortunately the second half began in similar fashion.
This time Albion Rrahmani turned from provider to goalscorer as he found space just inside the Larne penalty area to race on to Kryeziu’s lay-off.
The one bright spark of this came with an hour gone at Solitude when they finally got their first goal of the tie. Lee Bonis smashed home from the penalty spot after Quendrim Zyba (pictured above) was penalised for handball.
This came during a good spell for the home side but once again it was Ballkani who showed them how to finish just six minutes later. Almir Kryeziu found the bottom left corner, despite Ferguson getting a hand to it.
With nothing but pride to play for Larne continued to drive forward as the rain poured down at Solitude.
Andy Ryan thought he had pulled one back from a corner, as he looked to force the ball over the line, but Icelandic official Thorarinsson waved away appeals for a goal as it finished 4-1 on the night.
Larne: Ferguson, Omar, Donnelly, Farquhar, Thomson, Bonis (’61 Westendorf), Ives (’74 Glynn), Gordon (’61 Smith), Cosgrove, Sloan (’80 Kearns), Ryan (’74 O’Neill)
Unused sub: Dowling
Ballkani: Kolci, Thaqi, Pokotu, Emerllahu (’15 Rrahmani), Korenica, Grispshi, Zyba (‘76 Limaj), Trashi, Kuc, Kryeziu (’76 Ramadani), Jashanica
Unused subs: Hoxha, Ljuljanovic, Halili , Shala, Dellova, , Shata, Kapra, Berisha, Tolaj
Referee: Vilhjalmur Thorarinsson
