Larne 26-27 preview: Inver Reds aim to defend Irish Premiership title

After winning the league on the final day of the season, the Inver Reds will look back on the most recent campaign as one that the side overcame many obstacles to finish in style. As focus shifted to the season ahead, the club were handed a massive blow with the news that Andy Ryan had left the side to return back to Scotland after scoring 70 goals in 121 appearances. The striker has been influential during Larne's recent success and is a huge loss for the Inver Reds and it will be a concern that clubs around them have strengthened their attacking options as they push for the Gibson Cup themselves. Haveron will not underplay the task at hand if his side want to defend their trophy, but an aim will also be to get their hands on the Irish Cup something that, despite their recent success, they have never managed to do. Last year: 1st Manager: Gary Haveron New signings: Josh Ukek, Sam McClelland, Montel Gibson, Kevin O'Hara First five fixtures: Bangor (H), Coleraine (A), Limavady United (H), Ballymena United (A), Glentoran (H)