It was a night to remember for Larne as they progressed to the play-off round in the UEFA Conference League following an emotional and dramatic penalty shoot-out defeat of Kosovan opponents FC Ballkani at Inver Park.

Tiernan Lynch's side held a one-goal advantage from the first leg last week, and although they lost by the same margin on the night they did keep their composure to come through 4-1 after spot-kicks.

They will now go through to the Play-off Round against Gibraltar's Lincoln Red Imps for a place in the group stages of the competition.

Larne created the first effort of note on the night with around a quarter-of-an-hour on the clock when Joe Thomson cut the ball back for Chris Gallagher to fire over from the edge of the box while, a few minutes after that, Thomson himself sent a dipping volley just past the near post.

At the other end, a little later in the first half, Walid Hamidi received the ball from Sunday Adetunji and tested Rohan Ferguson with a low shot but the home keeper was equal to the threat.

The visitors did go in at the break on top, however, when Hamidi was fouled by Cian Bolger in the box and from the subsequent penalty the Algerian stepped up to fire past Ferguson to level the tie on aggregate.

Larne took the game to their opponents for the first part of the second half with Dylan Sloan seeing an early effort turned behind by Enea Kolici, with the visiting keeper then being called into action to produce a superb stop to thwart a great effort from Matthew Lusty.

Kolici then denied Andy Ryan before play switched to the other end for Ferguson to keep out efforts from Adetunji and Marsel Ismajlgeci.

Despite further chances for both sides there was no further scoring in normal time, but very early in extra-time Bleart Tolaj dragged an effort just the wrong side of the upright as Ballkani looked to seize the advantage.

Larne had their chances, too, with Paul O'Neill sending a looping header onto the roof of the net while, right at the end, Ryan stretched to meet a Gallagher flick only to turn the ball just over.

And so onto penalties … Thomson stepped up successfully convert first for Larne, followed by a Ferguson save to keep out Hamidi's attempt. Mark Randall then sent Larne's second straight down the middle before Ferguson again saved to stop Ajazaj Engjell's effort.

Ryan stroked home a third for Larne into the bottom corner, but Krenar Duja did score to keep the visitors in it. But that proved to be merely academic as Gallagher confidently strode up to fire home to spark ecstatic scenes around the ground and on the pitch to ensure Larne's European adventures will continue!

Larne: Ferguson, Ives, Donnelly, S. Graham, Bolger, Cosgrove, Sloan, Gallagher, Ryan, Lusty, Thomson subs D. Graham, Want, Altintop, McKendry, Randall, O'Neill, Brown, Smith, Devlin

FC Ballkani: Kolici, Smajili, Potoku, Emerllahu, Adetunji, Kryeziu, Hamidi, Ismajlgeci, Thaqi, Jashanica, Queven subs Miftari, Ljuljanovic, Halili, Sinani, Engjell, Dulaj, Kodra, Giovanni, Abedini, Tolaj