Chris Shields says an 'ironic chant' from some Larne supporters helped put Linfield's disappointing season into perspective.
The Blues were denied a fifth successive Premiership title as Larne made history by winning their first-ever Gibson Cup.
Tiernan Lynch's heroic side received the trophy on the night they hosted dethroned Linfield at Inver Park.
Read more: That's What I Call Football podcast with Linfield midfielder Chris Shields
Shields says some home fans chanted 'bye-bye five-in-a-row' as David Healy's side watched the new champions lift the trophy.
"You quickly learn how things can turn into a crisis at Linfield. Even last year there were knives out for David," he told Belfast Live's That's What I Call Football podcast.
"We had no right to win the league last year, and the fact we did is testament to the group. It probably wasn't expected (after going full-time).
"People forget this was a team going for five league titles in a row. You go around all the leagues in Europe and that is a rarity.
"Even the night Larne were lifting the trophy, their fans were singing 'bye-bye five-in-a-row". There is a small bit of irony in that.
"We were a team going for five-in-a-row but we were stopped. But we go again."
Shields says "he can't understand" some of the criticism aimed at manager Healy considering the club's recent success.
The former Northern Ireland striker has won five titles in the space of seven years, including two doubles.
Despite the prolific run there are some fans who continue to question their manager's time at Windsor.
"I can never understand the criticism David gets because of the job he's done at Linfield. And the trophy haul speaks for itself really," Shields said.
He added: "The criticism fires you up. I can't wait to get going again.
"You pride yourself on league titles. That's the best thing to win in football.
"Losing out in the manner we did this season has only fired us up. We want to win it back and prove the doubters wrong.
"Larne will be looking to do what Linfield did and win multiple titles. It is up to us to win it back.
"I am sure the gaffer and Willie McKeown (chief scout) are never off the phone at the minute. It should be an interesting summer for us."
Summing up Linfield's season, Shields described it as a "year of nearly" after missing out on the group stages of the Europa Conference League and finishing second in the league.
"It started way back in August when we nearly got into the group stages. We nearly won the league and we finished runners-up in the Shield," he said.
"We did manage to win the League Cup. It could have been worse, but it could have been a lot better.
"When I was at Dundalk back in 2017 we gave up the league too easily, but we did manage to win the League Cup and finish second.
"That motivated us to go again the following year and we will be ready to do that at Linfield next season."
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