A limp Larne performance out in Kosovo tonight leaves them with it all to do in the return leg as FC Ballkani battered them 3-0.

Having bowed out of Champions League contention in heroically heartbreaking fashion last week, Larne hoped to commence their Conference League campaign with a good result to take home.

And whilst they saw little of the ball in the opening stages, their goal didn’t come under serious threat from Ballkani until twenty minutes in, goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson making two quick saves in succession which kept out efforts from Lorenc Trashi and Nazmi Gripshi.

As the away defence felt the heat, eventually they got burnt when Shaun Want unwisely tangled with Gripshi and conceded a penalty, no doubt to the annoyance of boss Tiernan Lynch after his side also conceded a spot kick to HJK Helsinki.

Up stepped Kosovan forward, Albion, Rrahmani who caressed the kick into the corner to make it 1-0.

It went from bad to worse for Larne seven minutes later as Ballkani sliced through them at ease and bearing in on goal, Almir Kyreziu finished superbly, his shot fired across Ferguson, into the net.

Half time arrived as a reprieve with the visitors left with quite the uphill task for the second half.

Service to Lee Bonis and Andrew Ryan up front remained scant however, the NIFl champions falling flat especially compared to how they attacked Helsinki last time out.

They were lucky to not concede a third when Rrahmani ran in again only to be deemed offside.

Three bookings for the hosts added some bite to a niggly game and Larne got on the front foot when Joe Thomson and Levi Ives came on, albeit unable to land a crucial goal.

Their lack of cutting edge was exposed moments later as the Kosovans added a third in comical style.

From Larne’s own corner, Ballkani effortlessly countered up, sauntering into the final third as Rrahmani turned provider, sliding in Gripshi who slickly stroked it home.

Substitute Paul O’Neill went closest to reducing the arears with an attempt that deflected wide but Larne offered little and now have a mountain to climb at Solitude.

After dropping down a rung in European competitions with elimination last week, Larne’s performance quality also dipped considerably and unless they can turn this around, they will find themselves off the European ladder entirely for another season.