Latest news with #RohanFerguson
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Underdog status 'suits' Larne in Santa Clara tie
Larne goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson believes his team's primary objective is to keep their Uefa Conference League third-round tie alive against Portugal's Santa Clara after Thursday's first leg at the Ballymena Showgrounds (20:00 BST). The Invermen negotiated the first two rounds of qualifying in penalty shootouts, but face a significant step up in class against a side that finished fifth in Portugal's top flight last season. Larne reached the league phase last season and have ambitions of repeating that run, but have a huge test on their hands against the club from the Azores. Nathan Rooney's side have played their home games in Ballymena due to their home pitch at Inver Park not meeting the required standards, but in their 'home' games against Auda and Prishtina, they kept clean sheets which Ferguson acknowledged is "a bit strange as it's not our home pitch". Holding Santa Clara scoreless on Thursday would give them plenty to play for ahead of next week's return leg. "It's another massive test," said Ferguson. "We know they're a good side and have done the analysis on them. We want to get out to Portugal with something to play for. "We want to enjoy Europe and hopefully get through to the next round, which will be hard. We've been underdogs the past two rounds but that suits us going into this one, [we're] not expected to win." 'Penalties comes down skill rather than luck' Ferguson was the hero in the previous away legs which both went to penalties, making vital stops to see his side through. Although some may argue penalties are little more than a lottery, the Larne goalkeeper disagrees. "The coaching staff and goalkeeping analysis have done the work, so it's just happened to be me who saved the penalties. "It's been a collective and we're just happy to be through to the next one. "A lot of people say penalties is a lottery, but I don't think it is. You can step up and put a penalty where you want. We'll be confident if it goes down that route, but hopefully we can do it before that." Ferguson has the distinction of appearing in all of Larne's previous games in Europe. The 27-year-old Scot has also collected two Irish League titles with the club, but those big nights on the continental stage will always hold a special place in his memory. "I'll remember these nights for the rest of my life," he said. "Winning a few league titles here is unbelievable but when I'm older and look back on my career, these are the nights I'll remember." Who do Linfield and Larne face in Europe? Linfield could face European rematch with Shelbourne
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Larne display 'like night and day'
Larne manager Nathan Rooney reflected on a "night and day performance in terms of the first and second half" by his side after they drew 0-0 with Kosovan team Pristina in the first leg of their Uefa Conference League second qualifying round tie. Last season's Irish Premiership runners-up twice cleared efforts off the line in the second half while goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson denied Leutrim Kryeziu on two occasions with fine saves. "We didn't come out for the second half at all," bemoaned the Larne boss after the game at Ballymena Showgrounds. "We just seemed to force the play and come away from what we are really good at. "We didn't take our chances at the vital times so hopefully we can get back to the form we showed in the first half going into next week [the second leg in Prishtina on 31 July]. "They got a little bit of possession in that first 10 or 15 minutes of the second half and that rattled us a little bit but we changed formation to get us through the game in good fashion and that's what we did." Rooney says that his charges will regroup for a testing second leg. "They're athletic, they grew into the game so it's going to be a tough task over there but we'll put a plan in place and give it everything. "We'll freshen up. I've seen tonight that the squad is quite tired, especially after the hour mark, so we'll put in some planning and preparation over the next 24 hours to see how that looks."
BBC News
24-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Larne display 'like night and day'
Larne manager Nathan Rooney reflected on a "night and day performance in terms of the first and second half" by his side after they drew 0-0 with Kosovan team Pristina in the first leg of their Uefa Conference League second qualifying round season's Irish Premiership runners-up twice cleared efforts off the line in the second half while goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson denied Leutrim Kryeziu on two occasions with fine saves."We didn't come out for the second half at all," bemoaned the Larne boss after the game at Ballymena Showgrounds."We just seemed to force the play and come away from what we are really good at."We didn't take our chances at the vital times so hopefully we can get back to the form we showed in the first half going into next week [the second leg in Prishtina on 31 July]."They got a little bit of possession in that first 10 or 15 minutes of the second half and that rattled us a little bit but we changed formation to get us through the game in good fashion and that's what we did."Rooney says that his charges will regroup for a testing second leg."They're athletic, they grew into the game so it's going to be a tough task over there but we'll put a plan in place and give it everything."We'll freshen up. I've seen tonight that the squad is quite tired, especially after the hour mark, so we'll put in some planning and preparation over the next 24 hours to see how that looks."
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Larne beat Auda on penalties to progress to second round
Larne progressed to the second round of Uefa Conference League qualifying with a 4-2 penalty shootout win against Auda in the second leg in a goalless draw in the first leg at the Ballymena Showgrounds, Larne twice fought back from behind to draw 2-2 after extra time at Stadions were perfect with their penalties as Chris Gallagher, Paul O'Neill, Dan Bent and Tiernan O'Connor all scored their spot Ferguson saved Kemehlo Nguena's penalty and Ousmane Camara missed his spot kick as Larne went Rooney's side will face FC Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova or FC Prishtina of Kosovo in the second qualifying round later this month. Spot on from Invermen It was a bright start from Rooney's side as O'Neill fired wide after two minutes before Kader Kone headed over at the other end soon threatened again when Ryan Nolan's header from Conor McKendry's free-kick on 19 minutes was hacked off the Randall then cleared Kone's effort off the line, but the Inver outfit's resolve was broken three minutes later as Abdoul Traore netted the went close again before Mattheus Clemente's snapshot came back off the post as the hosts went in ahead at half-time. Larne pushed for the equaliser and were rewarded five minutes after the break as McKendry smashed home from outside the were level for just two minutes however, as substitute Enzo Monteiro's goal helped Auda regain the side continued to fight and were level once again with O'Neill scoring on 66 extra time, Ferguson was alert to thwart Alexander Ogunji and Jackson Kenio, whilst substitute Matt Ridley's header from a corner came back off the then showed their composure from the spot with Gallagher slotting home before Ferugson saved Nguena's spot kick.O'Neill and Stevenson Jeudi were both accurate with their penalties, as were Bent and Renars O'Connor netted to put Larne on the brink and Camara was off-target with his spot kick to help the visitors, who reached the league phase of the Conference League last season, move into the second qualifying round.
