Larne have one hand on the Irish Premiership title after a 1-1 draw with nearest rivals Linfield at Windsor Park.
An own goal from Leroy Millar put Linfield ahead before Andy Ryan equalized from the penalty spot.
The draw keeps Tiernan Lynch’s team three points ahead of the Blues with one game to go.
However, with Larne maintaining a much superior goal difference [17] over Linfield, they should retain the Gibson Cup in their final home game against Coleraine.
It was an aggressive opening to the high-stakes encounter, with serious fouls from both teams preventing either side from getting into a rhythm.
Linfield, knowing it was a game they needed to win to keep their faint title hopes alive, finally began to dominate possession but were unable to create clear-cut chances to test Rohan Ferguson.
David Healy showed great faith in giving 16-year-old Braiden Graham an early lead in a game of such magnitude and the young striker came close to reciprocating in the 21st minute.
He advanced and saw a low shot blocked before Chris McKee also had a goalbound effort deflected behind.
Linfield would open the scoring from the resulting corner in the 21st minute, with Leroy Millar inadvertently deflecting Kirk Millar’s dangerous shot into his own net.
Larne claimed that Rohan Ferguson was fouled which prevented him from reaching the ball, but the goal stood.
Larne got back into the game in the 35th minute when Joel Cooper went over Tomas Cosgrove in the box and the referee awarded a penalty.
Andy Ryan, who until then had been a peripheral figure in the game, stepped up and coolly scored his 23rd league goal of the season to equalize.
McKee wasted a good chance to put Linfield back in front five minutes before half-time, shooting over the crossbar after Daniel Finlayson tipped a Millar free-kick into his path.
Linfield started the second half with renewed intent and wasted another fine opportunity two minutes after the restart when Graham headed over the crossbar from Millar’s accurate cross.
Lee Bonis had a great opportunity to win the game and the Gibson Cup for Larne in the 77th minute.
Chris Shields, who was playing in defense due to Linfield’s injury crisis, played an awkward back pass which Bonis latched onto and advanced before being thwarted by Chris Johns in his attempt to lift the ball over the keeper.
Aaron Donnelly also saw a low shot deflected for the champions, who until then seemed content to settle for a draw that would all but guarantee back-to-back titles.
Linfield saw the return of Jordan Stewart, returning after a long injury absence in an attempt to find a late winner.
It was fellow striker McKee who came closest to scoring, deflecting Kirk Millar’s free-kick, but it hit the outside of the post and went wide, with Ferguson defeated.
They continued to press hard but to no avail as Larne extended their unbeaten league run to four games and all but ensured that the Gibson Cup would remain at Inver Park this season.
