Have you caught your breath yet?
Small moments can make the biggest differences. One goal or, in this case, two just seconds apart across two sides of the same city can change the entire complexion.
Deep, deep into added-time, Linfield were shooting above Larne to the Sports Direct Premiership summit by a point as they led 2-1 over Coleraine and the Invermen were being held by Glentoran.
Cue bedlam. Spectacularly and sensationally, five minutes into the stoppage period at The BetMcLean Oval, Cian Bolger whipped in an inswinger from the left that defender Johnny Russell – a Larne native by amazing coincidence – turned agonisingly into his own net to ensure the reigning champions of all three points on their trip to east Belfast, a 2-1 victory scored at the death.
With that, Tiernan Lynch’s men leapfrogged the Blues to the top of the table with Bolger’s earlier own goal, a scythe that looped inadvertently over Rohan Ferguson and into his own net which cancelled out Andy Ryan’s eighth-minute deadlock-breaker, being redeemed by the popular Kildare hero in the only way he could.
Across the city, however, came more cause for cheer among the travelling Inver Reds. The news filtered through of a leveller, and true it proved.
Matthew Shevlin, with all seven minutes played in added-time at Windsor, struck devastatingly late to wrap up a draw for the Bannsiders and, at the peak, open Larne’s gap over David Healy’s Blues from one point to three with just a couple of games remaining.
There’s never a David versus Goliath battle in the post-split, but Linfield’s title task looks a giant one now.
They have a one-point lead 120 seconds ago. Now, it was a four-point swing in a matter of moments.
What further works in Larne’s favour is that their goal difference, a mighty 17 better off over their established foes, means they might not even need another win to wrap up their second straight Gibson Cup.
The ball is in their court and Linfield are playing catch-up. The proud south Belfast institution trailed at half-time when returnee forward Jamie McGonigle put Oran Kearney’s rejuvenated Coleraine in the driving seat, but substitute Matthew Fitzpatrick headed Healy’s boys level before Chris Shields’ cool penalty had them in command by the hour.
But Shevlin, a predator, a punisher, showed no mercy.
After all, the Showgrounds side are building momentum for the end-of-season European play-offs; every point is worth its weight in gold.
Glentoran would’ve loved one, too, but Declan Devine’s side suffered a common fate to their eternal archrivals – and in a minuscule timeframe, the situation has altered beyond recognition.
All is not lost, mind you, as Linfield entertain Larne knowing anything but victory is off the table.
“From here on in, as one of the top two, you can afford not to win – to an extent, of course – but you dare, dare not lose,” as was written last week after Larne’s home reversal to Crusaders and the Blues’ goalless draw at Glentoran when they failed to pounce, and neither of them have.
That’s telling still. If Linfield win on Monday night, it goes to the final day.
Hold onto your hats, folks; Tuesday night might not be the last night for fine margins.
Featured image from Larne FC Media.
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