Well, that didn't take long! Derry City FC today confirmed Larne manager Tiernan Lynch as the new manager of the club after a compensation package was agreed with the Inver Park side. His assistant manager and brother Seamus will also be leaving Larne to join up with the Candystripes. The pair will take charge of their final game tomorrow night as Larne travel to play Institute, ironically, for a League Cup tie. I'm sure today's news might just draw a curious crowd to that Brandywell match now... While Lynch's name had been mentioned over the weekend among rumours and speculation, several other high profile out of work managers had been linked, but Sam Allardyce wasn't one of them, despite "Derry rumours".... As it is, chairman Phillip O'Doherty wasted no time in securing the services of the most sought after manager in the NIFL Premiership, even with 50-60 applications received for the job, according to The Journal. 44 year old Lynch has a UEFA Pro License and was assistant manager at Glenavon at the start of his coaching career before he took over at Larne in 2017 with the club struggling in Northern Ireland's 2nd tier. Within two years they were runaway title winners (17pts clear of Carrick Rangers) and promoted to the top flight, playing a brand of exciting attacking football that would soon have success at the higher level. They finished 4th in their first season, which was shortened by COVID, and finished 6th in 2021, but won their first ever County Antrim Shield, which they have won now for FOUR years in a row. Another 4th place finish in 2022 has been followed by two astonishing Premiership title wins, finishing ahead of mighty Linfield both times. For a club that was an intermediate side until 1972 (after which they funnily enough were chosen to replace a certain Derry City in the Irish league), it's fairy-tale stuff. Qualification for the group stage of European competition this current season, which no team from Northern Ireland had EVER done, meant Lynch was catching the eyes of lots of clubs here and across the water. He held talks with Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone but turned them down as he felt their ambition didn't match his - so the fact he sees that at Derry City shows what a major coup this is, despite Larne's struggles this season. Playing almost a dozen matches in Europe against a higher level of opposition has affected the defence of their league title, while Lynch will have noted the quality of LOI teams as his own side were well beaten by Shamrock Rovers recently. The fact that our chairman has given him a three year deal shows the belief in the new boss, and suggests more financial backing in the transfer market too. It's been a roller coaster week, but this news will certainly lift spirits. Welcome to Derry, Tiernan! HONOURS at Larne 2018/19 Championship title (2nd Division) 2020/21 County Antrim Shield 2021/22 County Antrim Shield 2022/23 Premiership title and County Antrim Shield double 2023/24 Premiership title and County Antrim Shield double 2024/25 NIFL Charity Shield and UEFA Conference Group Stage qualification
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