From being 'written off' to making history as champions

The 2026 season has had many ups and downs for Larne, but it has proven to be a campaign to remember.

Following Kenny Bruce selling his share of the club, many key figures leaving in the summer and Nathan Rooney's shock departure after just one Irish Premiership game, few expected the Inver Reds to lift the Irish Premiership trophy this season.

Larne made a commanding start to the season, went on an 18-game unbeaten run and occupied top spot for most of the campaign.

However, a blip during the closing stages of the season saw their 11-point gap at the top close to just three points and meant it all came down to the final game of the season when Larne thrashed Dungannon Swifts 8-0, and Coleraine secured second place and an automatic European spot.

Plenty has been talked about Larne and their rise over the past eight years but this trophy under Larne native Gary Haveron feels different after the turbulent summer and tricky campaign.

"We dug in, it was a far from straight forward season," Haveron said

"People were talking about the demise of Larne Football Club and underestimated what we have as a group, club and community.

"We were written off by so many people, and I don't think too many people gave us much of a look in and that maybe worked in our favour as we were able to get on with our work."

Haveron became Larne's permanent manager following his second spell as interim coach after Rooney left the club.

The former Glentoran and Carrick manager had already made history as Larne boss when they became the first Irish League club to win a game in the league phase of the Conference League in 2024.

However, he has now written his and Larne's name in the history books once again and has another Irish Premiership medal to add to the collection.

"I love this town and love the people," he continued.

"I am so lucky to have so many family and friends here today and the support I have had all season has been exceptional, but we reset now, it goes back to zero.

"The boys get everything they deserve. This was a hard title to win there is no doubt about that, but am I taking away from anything other [trophy], no chance."

After the match, it was evident the respect and adoration that the players and fans had for Haveron and the job he has done since being at the club.

Midfielder Leroy Millar added that Haveron deserved the success and praised the 45-year-old for the role he has played in their latest title triumph.

"He has been absolutely unbelievable; he has been here a very long time and is a Larne man through and through," Millar said.

"I am buzzing more for him than anyone else, even during his pre-match talk he was nearly in tears as it means so much to him.

"Get the statue built for him!"

Alongside Eric Perez, Nick Ginnotti joined the club's board of directors in July and became majority shareholders following their purchase of Bruce's 50% stake in the club.

The pair have not been afraid to make major changes since their arrival at Larne as they attempt to follow in Bruce's footsteps and guide the club to more success.

"I am so proud to see them through and put the effort in against the odds and teams who were putting money in and we stuck to our guns and said that these were our guys," he told BBC Sport NI.

"I think winning the league this year is the perfect example [that] we are an underdog when it comes to Irish League football.

"We played big teams and had big moments, we have said time and time again when they have big moments, they come through."

Despite this title being the side's third in four years, Giannotti is not getting carried away and believes that they must continue to build on the stability of the club.

"Stability is a key component to a foundation," he continued.

"If you don't have stability and you have chaos, you can't build on the foundation. That is why when we came in, we evaluated the player's contracts and looked at those things the culture, contracts and all of that

"The stability is what I feel like can really drive us to a stronger future next year."