“It was a great start, but that’s all it was”- Greene
By Stephen Leonard
AARON Greene has stressed the importance of Shamrock Rovers building on their winning start to the new Airtricity League season in order to keep themselves right in thick of title contention.
With three minutes gone in stoppage time, the Kilnamanagh man fired home the only goal in Saturday afternoon’s Dublin derby against bitter rivals Bohemians in a wet and muddy Dalymount Park.
Tallaght man Aaron Greene fires home his dramatic injury time winner against Bohemians in their 2020 Airtricity League opener in Dalymount Park on Saturday (Photo by Eddie Lennon)
For Greene, who had been sent off in this very fixture last season when the Hoops were on the receiving end of a 1-0 defeat, this victory was all the more sweet.
But the striker, while appreciating just how much that victory means to the club and its supporters, was quick to stress the fact that it is just a first positive step in their pursuit of the Premier Division crown.
“Any game against Bohs is big” Green told The Echo. “It was the first game of the new campaign and it was great to get the win.
“We’ll let the fans and the people around Tallaght enjoy that result. It was a great start, but that’s all it was. We’ve got to just keep doing what we do.
“But it was a great win. We dropped nine points to Bohs last year and that really cost us in the title race against Dundalk.
Greene, who had also hit the net in last season’s opening night win against Waterford, was pleased to get off the mark in the first weekend of the 2020 campaign.
“It was very satisfying to get off the mark in the first game, but honestly the result means far more to me. I wouldn’t care if my shot came back off the gaffer and went in, that’s the way I am” he laughed.
With a valuable three points bagged, Stephen Bradley’s side will now turn their attention to a hectic week of action that sees them welcome Cork City to Tallaght for their first home match of the season tomorrow night before they travel to Waterford on Monday followed by another much anticipated home tie against defending champions Dundalk.
Greene warned against any complacency when the Leesiders come to town, saying “We can’t just think that we’ll just show up and get the win. It’s not going to be like that. It’s going to be a tough game.
“Neale Fenn has cleaned out a lot of players and this is his squad. I know they lost to Shels [on Friday night], but I don’t read too much into first games. Teams are just settling in.
“It’ll be our first home match of the season and we just can’t wait to get out there and play in front of the fans in Tallaght. We’re really looking forward to it.
“The games are already coming thick and fast we’ve got Waterford after that. And then we have Dundalk four days later.
“It’s a very busy start but players now, with the diet and fitness and all the sports science at their disposal, it’s what is expected of us. We have to go out there and give it everything.”
This Saturday will see Shamrock Rovers B kick off their First Division title drive with a trip to Longford Town.
The new Hoops team will provide an opportunity for some of the Tallaght club’s most promising talent to compete on the Airtricity League stage.
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