Larne kicked off their Europa Conference League campaign with a scoreless draw away to St. Joseph's in Gibraltar's Victoria Stadium.

A relatively quiet start to proceedings saw the home side test the Larne defence with a number of dangerous crosses.

However it took until the 24th minute for the effort of note to be created when Mark Randall's corner from the right was headed goalwards by Jeff Hughes only for keeper Ross Fitzsimmons to turn the effort over the bar.

The visitors threatened again on 36 minutes when Leroy Millar latched onto a long Kofi Balmer throw-in but he couldn't keep his header on target.

Then, a couple of minutes later at the other end, St. Joseph's midfielder Juanmu unleashed a fierce effort which Rohan Ferguson sent behind for a corner before dealing comfortably with the subsequent set piece.

Larne perhaps came closest early in the second half when, just a couple of minutes in, Millar's corner was tipped onto the crossbar by Fitzsimmons.

Further opportunities for Tiernan Lynch's side came through Cian Bolger's back post header just after the hour, and again ten minutes after that.

The hosts had a big chance in the closing moments after the ball fell for substitute Christian Anzar but a combination of good defending from Balmer and a Ferguson save kept the Larne goal intact.

Indeed, Larne had one final push themselves as the minutes ticked down when Hughes saw his 25-yard effort fizz just over.

The sides meet again next Thursday at Inver Park, kick-off 7:45pm.

St. Joseph's: Fitzsimons, Valarino, Bauti, Manuel Caballero, Boro, Olmos, Peters, Villar, Pons, Juanma, Domingo Ferrer subs Robba (not used), Serra (not used), Pablo Rosa (not used), Yussuf (replaced Valarino 57), Christian Anzar (replaced Manuel Cabellero 57), Barnett (not used), Cristian Pecci (replaced Bauti 85), Mouelhi (not used), Robba (replaced Domingo Ferrer 57), Antwi (replaced Boro 77)

Larne: Ferguson, Balmer, Kelly, Kearns, Randall, Bonis, Gordon, Bolger, Millar, Cosgrove, Hughes subs McIntyre (not used), Sule (not used), Herron (not used), Doherty (replaced Kelly 67), Sloan (not used), Lusty (replaced Kearns 68), Aretzis (not used), Greer (not used)