Larne's strong brickwork leading to European history

The project was already underway by that stage, but perhaps the first big ripple in the Larne story involved a transfer from Waterford all the way back in 2017.

Derry-born David McDaid had spent a season at the RSC and had starred as Alan Reynolds' side earned promotion back to the top-flight when word got around that the striker was keen for a move back north.

At 26 years of age and with a history of goals behind him, interest was obviously high amongst Irish League clubs, as well as from the likes of Sligo Rovers, however, when Linfield entered the race, a familiar conclusion seemed inevitable with the Windsor Park giants holding so much pulling power.

They were champions too, but in one of the most seismic transfers in a long time, McDaid opted to head to Inver Park and a Larne side that were, at that point, viewed as potential relegation candidates to the third tier after a slow start to the season with 69 people showing up for their opening game of that campaign.

The snub hurt, no doubt about it. Then – and current – Linfield boss David Healy remarked that "maybe he couldn’t handle the challenge of coming to play at the champions" and accusations of following the money persisted from some Blues supporters.

Looking back, McDaid can’t help but laugh when reliving the episode with RTÉ Sport.

It was Larne boss Tiernan Lynch, who came very close to taking over Scottish Premiership outfit St Johnston last month, who made the first contact when he decided to move on from Waterford, and the club were at so far removed from the headlines that McDaid thought he was still coaching with Glentoran.

That phone call though would prove to be a real sliding doors moment for the east Antrim side who have since won back-to-back Premiership