Larne made it three clean sheets in a row as they left the Oval with a point following Tuesday’s 0-0 draw against Glentoran.
It was a result which ensured Larne would finish the season in fifth place, as the countdown to the European play-offs continued.
Chances were at a premium on the night, but sides went close to opening the scoring early on.
Larne were disappointed firstly, with five minutes gone, when Mark Randall slipped the ball forward to give Lee Lynch a clear run on Aaron McCarey’s goal, but he stabbed the ball just wide of the left-hand post.
At the other end, a minute later, Hrvoje Plum floated in a free-kick from the left flank which an unmarked Michael O’Connor headed inches over the crossbar.
After those early chances the game settled in a patten which saw most of the play in midfield.
The next opportunity arrived with 20 minutes on the clock when John Herron and Davy McDaid combined well.
The Scottish midfielder slipped the ball into the path of McDaid just inside the box and the little striker jinked his way clear of two defenders to have a clear sight of goal, but McCarey did well not to commit himself and made the save to turn the ball round the post.
At the other end, Rohan Ferguson was called into action on 28 minutes when he showed good hands to hold Dylan Powers’ deflected effort from just outside the area.
The best opportunity so far came with 20 minutes gone in the second half. A ball over the top of the Glentoran defence found Ben Doherty in acres of space with a free sight of goal, but as he cut in the former Coleraine man shot too close to McCarey who made the stop.
Glentoran were struggling to create chances as the second half wore on, but with 12 minutes left they came within a whisker of breakjng the deadlock.
Conor McMenamin floated a dangerous cross into the box from the right flank and Jay Donnelly rose highest to nod the ball just wide with Rohan Ferguson looking beaten.
A minute into stoppage time Donnelly was again in the thick of the action when he thought he had plundered a late winner.
Conor McMenamin did well to keep the ball alive on the left flank and forced it into the path of Jay Donnelly, but the ball just wouldn’t sit and the former Cliftonville man flicked the ball over six yard yards.
Glentoran: McCarey, Burns, Marshall, J Donnelly, McClean, Clucas (’75 McCartan), O’Connor (’80 Cushnie), Marron, McMenamin, Powers (’75 Kane), Plum
Unused subs: Glendinning, R Donnelly, Crowe, Cole
Larne: Ferguson, Balmer, Kelly, Sule (’80 Mitchell), Herron (’45 Herron), Randall, (72 Jarvis), McDaid, Doherty, Lynch (’91 Simpson), Bolger, Cosgrove
Unused subs: Devlin, Hale, Brennan
Referee: Ross Dunlop
