'Catch yourself on!' - David Jeffrey hits back at critics in passionate defence

David Jeffrey has made a passionate defence of Larne's performances in Europe this season and says some critics need to "catch themselves on".

It has been a baptism of fire for Larne in the league phase of the UEFA Conference League, losing their opening three games including a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Shamrock Rovers at Windsor Park.

That game was billed as a big 'North vs South' showdown, and a potential barometer as to where Northern Ireland football stood against its southern counterparts.

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Jeffrey has played down the debate off the back of one fixture, and says fans should focus on the progress made by clubs like Larne in recent years.

He told the BBC: "The game against Shamrock Rovers, it was one of those nights for Larne. They couldn't have picked a worse night to have an off-night.

"That was most definitely not the true Larne, and Shamrock Rovers were up for it big style.

"But here's what really gets to me. Larne have done something that nobody in the Irish League has ever done before. They are trailblazers and they have set the bar.

"They have given belief to the rest of the teams in the Irish League that they can actually get there. If Larne get anything out of this campaign by way of points, that's a bonus to me."

The former Linfield and Ballymena United manager added: "I thought they were excellent against St Gallen the other evening. But listen, I understand Tiernan Lynch being frustrated about not being able to hold on. They were never going to hold on.

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"St Gallen have a guy in their team who cost £20m. They are in a different bracket altogether. So what Larne has done, and what our league is doing, we are progressing and getting better."

Jeffrey believes fans here should glean the positives from Larne's European campaign. Tiernan Lynch's side made history by becoming the first Irish League club to ever reach the group stages of European competition this season.

But following recent results, some of that feel-good factor has turned into negativity and criticism, and claims that the Irish League is a poor neighbour to the League of Ireland.

"Let's not get carried away, and let's be positive about our league. There is nothing wrong with the League of Ireland being ahead of us. Let's worry on how we are progressing," Jeffrey added.

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"I think the job Gerard Lawlor (NI Football League CEO) and his team is doing is absolutely fabulous. We are not precious about ourselves.

"There are those who like to be critical, that's fair enough. On the night Larne let themselves down, but did they mean to? No they didn't.

"And the people criticising, how many have played or managed in the group stages of European competition? How many?

"It is okay to praise Larne one minute for doing brilliantly for qualifying, the next we are ripping the back out of them. People need to catch themselves on.

"We re doing well, and long may Gerard continue doing the work he is doing with his team."

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