Aaron Greene: ‘I feel I train with the best defenders in the country and beside the best strikers’

Aaron Greene in Richmond Park last June when he scored in Rovers' 2-1 win over the Athletic

Aaron Greene in Richmond Park last June when he scored in Rovers' 2-1 win over the Athletic Credit: Eddie Lennon (ETPhotos)

Aaron Greene made his first league start for Shamrock Rovers in 2023 on Friday night in the 3-0 win for Hoops in Belfield grabbing his first goal of the season in the process.

It was the fifth away win in a row for the Hoops, all victories that came with an accompanying clean sheet. 

In the last 24 league games, Rovers have kept a dozen clean sheets, winning 15 times and losing just once. They have been held scoreless themselves in this time only twice – both against Damien Duff’s Shelbourne.

“We always say if we don't concede, we should win the game,” said Greene speaking to extratime.com in Belfield on the night Rovers went top of the table. On Monday night Rovers host St. Patrick’s Athletic in Tallaght (kick-off 8pm) while Derry City play Dundalk.

“For me I feel I train with the best defenders in the country and beside the best strikers and that isn't being disrespectful to any other team. That is what I believe.

"If we have a zero at one end, we always feel we can win the game. You win leagues by keeping clean sheets. We didn't keep so many at the start of the season so recent results have been brilliant.”

Greene has had limited game time this year due to injury and a family bereavement. When he came off the bench against St. Patrick’s Athletic last month it was for his 200th appearance for the Hoops in all competitions.

The Hoops opened the scoring in the UCD Bowl on Friday through Trevor Clarke’s fourth goal in five games – Clarke will miss Monday’s match in Tallaght against the Saints due to suspension.

Greene doubled Rovers' lead early in the second half slotting home Markus Poom’s cross half. Substitute Justin Ferizaj’s cross was deflected home to cement Rovers’ 3-0 win in the 71st minute.

Reflecting on the win over UCD, Greene said: “We started the game really well. Trevor has been excellent and he gave us the lead and we went on from there. He is flying isn't he? He has been brilliant since he came back.”

“Everyone understands that you might not play every game. I haven't due to a few different circumstances and a few others are the same but you have to contribute when you come into this team.

"Nobody is guarenteed their place here and if you think you are you'll get told about it quite early.

“It is about the group. It isn't built on one person. We know it might be me scoring today, or Johnny [Kenny] on Monday or Rory [Gaffney] next Friday.”

About Macdara Ferris

Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile