Davy McDaid believes Larne have the quality and firepower to finish off the job against Aarhus and record one of the biggest European upsets by an Irish League team in recent years.
Tiernan Lynch’s men secured a stunning 2-1 first leg win over the Danish club, who finished fourth in the Superliga last season, in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night.
And McDaid, who bagged an early opener at Inver Park, believes the harbour men are equipped to cause another shock in next week’s return leg at the Aarhus Stadium.
“We are solid at the back and we can also create chances, so I believe we’re well set up for Europe, particularly away from home,” he said.
“I don’t think anyone would have given us a chance going into these games, but there’s a great belief in the group.
“We believe we have the ability to create chances over in Denmark and I definitely think we can go over there and give a good account of ourselves.”
McDaid accepts Aarhus, who were stung by Thursday night’s defeat at Inver Park, will have a point to prove in the return leg.
Only Brondby, Copenhagen and Midtjyllland, who drew 1-1 with Celtic in the Champions League at Celtic Park on Tuesday night, finished above them in the Danish league last season.
“Aarhus are a big European team and we knew it was going to be tough, but maybe they underestimated us a bit,” said McDaid.
“They maybe watched the Bala Town games in the previous round and didn’t really give us as much respect as they should have, but I don’t think that’ll be the case in the return leg.
“I think they’ll be a lot more wary now having had a look at us in the first leg and we’re expecting a tougher game over there.”
McDaid, who was also on target against Bala in the away leg in the first qualifying round, and Dean Jarvis had Larne ahead at the break in the first leg.
But Aarhus bagged a crucial lifeline in the 84th minute when Alexander Ammitzboll’s cross ended up sneaking in off the far post via goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson’s right palm.
“That late goal was a kick in the teeth and we probably ended up being a little disappointed coming away from the game,” said McDaid.
“In truth, we would have been slightly disappointed if it had stayed 2-0 because I thought we might have scored a third on the break.
“I didn’t really feel any danger at all for long periods and I thought we looked really comfortable and solid at the back.
"It was disappointing to concede, but it was still a positive result."
