By BBC (Sports) | Created at 2025-01-13 09:21:34 | Updated at 2025-01-13 17:12:23
7 hours ago
Larne will aim to remain on target for a first BetMcLean Cup success when they host Cliftonville in Tuesday's semi-final of the competition at Inver Park.
The east Antrim club's dramatic renaissance of recent seasons has seen them collect back-to-back league titles, win four County Antrim Shield finals in a row and break new ground for the Irish League by qualifying for the league stages of the Uefa Conference League.
Victories in the Irish Cup and BetMcLean Cup have so far eluded the Invermen however.
Gary Haveron's side saw off Cliftonville 2-0 in Friday's Premiership encounter between the sides at the same venue but another close contest is anticipated with a place in the 9 March showpiece final at stake.
Larne's last appearance in a League Cup final saw them lose to Cliftonville on penalties in the 2003-04 campaign, while they also came out second best to Linfield in their only other previous involvement in a final in the 1991-92 campaign.
Larne go into the game on a run of five unbeaten in the Premiership, with Jim Magilton's side, in contrast, on a sequence of five games without a win in the top division, including defeats in their past four.
The Solitude Reds last lifted the League Cup trophy in 2022 when they defeated Coleraine 4-3 after extra-time and they will be keen to add more silverware to the Irish Cup they collected in May.
Tuesday's other BetMcLean Cup semi-final sees Glentoran face off against Crusaders at the Oval.
The Glens have not tasted defeat in their past nine matches in all competitions so with home advantage in their favour confidence should be high that they can move a step closer to winning the competition for the first time since 2010.
Crusaders target an appearance in the decider with the aim of righting their record of three defeats in their past three finals in the competition.
