Photo: Jamie Brennan
Report: Peter Wilson
Larne put in a superb second half performance to draw 2-2 with Scottish Championship side Kilmarnock in their second pre-season outing.
Innes Cameron converted from the spot early on to give Killie the lead before Fraser Murray doubled their advantage just over 10 minutes later. Goals from Lee Lynch and Ronan Hale in the space of two second-half minutes restored parity between the sides.
Kilmarnock took an early lead through an Innes Cameron spot kick, awarded after Jason Naismith was fouled in the box on nine minutes.
With 19 minutes gone, Mark Randall fed an enticing ball through to Lee Lynch, but Zach Hemming was quickly off his line to deal with the danger.
The visitors doubled their lead two minutes later. Graham Kelly failed to clear the ball properly. Chris Burke played the ball through to Fraser Murray who made no mistake and tucked the ball past Rohan Ferguson into the bottom left.
Kilmarnock came close to getting their third just after half an hour. Burke’s cross in from the right was met by the head of Cameron but Ferguson made a great reaction save to keep it at two.
Larne tried to reduce the deficit four minutes from the break when Jeff Hughes launched a long ball from the halfway line into Davy McDaid in the box, but he could only hook the ball over from close range.
On 43, the visitors come close again. After a good move down the pitch, Ferguson just about kept out Cameron’s low strike from 12 yards.
Around one minute later, Marty Donnelly delivered a ball into the box from the right and Davy McDaid fizzed his shot just wide of the left post.
Half-time: Larne 0 Kilmarnock 2
Lee Lynch reduced the deficit to one goal after 68 minutes when he stroked the ball home from just inside the box to finish a great move down the pitch from the Invermen.
The home side were level just two minutes later. It was another quick attack from the Invermen; Mark Randall crossing the ball into the path of Ronan Hale from the right-hand side and the substitute made no mistake as he swept in for the equaliser.
Full-time: Larne 2 Kilmarnock 2
Larne: Ferguson, Cosgrove, Balmer, Hughes (c), Kelly, Mitchell, Randall, Lynch, McKendry, Donnelly, McDaid
Subs: Argyrides, Jarvis, Watson, Robinson, Lusty, Hale, Herron, Scott, Trialist A
Kilmarnock: Hemming, Naismith, E Murray (c), Sanders, Haunstrup, McGinn, Lyons, Armstrong, Burke, F Murray, Cameron
Subs: Hamilton, McGowan, Waters, Craig, McArthur, Brindley, Smith, McKenzie, Warnock, Connell
