Greene hopeful Hoops can build on early win
By Stephen Leonard
SHAMROCK Rovers head into a challenging few days, aiming to maintain the early momentum generated by their thrilling 2-1 victory over Waterford in their SSE Airtricity League opener on Friday.
Stephen Bradley’s side will welcome Derry City to Tallaght Stadium for their first home match of the 2019 campaign tonight (Friday) before travelling to Dalymount Park to face arch rivals Bohemians on Monday.
Aaron Greene
Both the Candystripes and Gypsies also enjoyed winning starts to their seasons and Rovers striker Aaron Greene is expecting nothing easy but feels the team is on a sound footing after Friday night’s victory in which his goal cancelled out Kevin Lynch’s opener for Waterford before Ethan Boyle pinched it at the death for the visitors to the Showgrounds.
“The first game of the season is always difficult, but going away to Waterford is very tough,” said Greene.
“I thought we played well in the conditions that were very bad and I felt we went behind against the run of play.
“We were very disappointed to go in at halftime a goal down, but you’re going to encounter situations like that throughout the season and we showed great character to come back and get out of there with the three points.
“It was a ninetieth minute winner, an incredible feeling and hopefully we can carry that never-say-die attitude into the rest of the season.”
The Kilnamanagh man was delighted to get off the mark so early in the campaign adding “I really enjoyed my football over the last few weeks of last season, it was just the goals weren’t there.
“Playing up front for Rovers, you’re always going to be judged on the amount of goals you get so it was great to get off the mark.
“The main thing is that the team got the result, but being selfish as a striker you always want to score.”
Greene and co are now gearing up for the challenge of Derry who hit three without response against UCD to go top of the table.
The game will be made all the more interesting by the fact that midfielder Aaron McEneff could well be lining out for the Hoops against his former team.
“Derry have done well in Tallaght at times largely because of Aaron McEneff, but now hopefully he can do that for us against them,” said Greene
“We’re expecting a tough match. Teams always make it difficult for us when they come here, with the stadium and the crowd.
“They’re relentless and we’re not looking past them to the Bohs match. We’ve got to deal with Derry on Friday and it would be great to have six points in the bag, after two huge games against them and Waterford,” he added.
