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Ryan delighted with title win after 'turbulent' season
TL;DR
Larne striker Andy Ryan expressed joy over winning their third Irish Premiership title in four years after a challenging season. The team secured the title with an 8-0 victory against Dungannon Swifts on the final day.
Key points
- Andy Ryan pleased with third Irish Premiership title in four years
- Larne won title with an 8-0 victory over Dungannon Swifts
- Season marked by managerial changes and ownership stake sale
Mentioned in this story
LinfieldRedball
Andy RyanLarneIrish Premiership
Larne striker Andy Ryan said he was pleased that they got over the line and won a third Irish Premiership title in four years after a "turbulent" season.
The Inver men wrestled back the Gibson Cup from Linfield with a thumping 8-0 win over Dungannon Swifts on the final day.
It caps a fine end to a chaotic season for Larne, whose manager Nathan Rooney left after the first game of the season with Kenny Bruce also selling his 50% stake in the Irish Premiership club to American firm Redball.
And Ryan, who missed the first half of the season with a knee injury, praised the resilience of players and staff alike to win the title.
"We did half the job at the oval last week and we knew we had to do the other half today. There was a lot of noise from the outside about what could happen but we did what we did all season focused on ourselves and it was a real professional performance," he told BBC Sport NI.
"It's been a turbulent season from the start losing the manager and Kenny leaving but we're a close-knit group and we stuck together like we did today and got it over the line.
"It's not just the forward players it's the whole squad [that helped win the league], look at the clean sheets as well. Teams win games but squads win leagues and that's what's done us good this year."
The 31-year-old is out of contract in the summer and said after the title celebrations that he was unsure if he would extend his successful three and a half year association with the club.
"I don't know, it's been a turbulent season for me," he added.
"My sole focus was to get myself back fit and after that it was to get today over the line.
"Whether I'm here next year or not I wanted to make sure this club got another trophy. I'll have a few weeks with my family and see what the future brings."
'They underestimated what we have as a group' - Haveron
Gary Haveron stepped in to take on the role as interim manager from Rooney in August but such was Larne's success under the 45-year-old he was named permanent boss on a three-year deal in October.
Q&A
How did Larne win the Irish Premiership title this season?
Larne won the Irish Premiership title by defeating Dungannon Swifts 8-0 on the final day of the season.
What challenges did Larne face during the season?
Larne faced challenges including the departure of manager Nathan Rooney after the first game and the sale of a 50% stake in the club to an American firm.
Who is Andy Ryan and what role did he play in Larne's success?
Andy Ryan is a striker for Larne who contributed to the team's success after recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him for the first half of the season.