Stuttering Rovers 'need to get the finger out' admits Aaron Greene

What should be a moment of personal celebration for Aaron Greene is tinged with broader concerns at Shamrock Rovers’ title defence.

His pair of braces against Derry City and Sligo Rovers were part of a five-goal April spree to offer the Hoops a window to dislodge early pacesetters Shelbourne at the summit.

Both opportunities presented over the May weekend were squandered – drawing at Bohemians and losing 3-1 at home to Waterford on Monday.

Greene’s skipper Pico Lopes described the latter loss as bordering on “embarrassing” from being outfought by the newly-promoted side and the striker was also lamenting the nature of their regression.

Laboured starts to the season like this were part of their four-in-row feat but Greene can’t summon lessons from those successes when the title race is so tight approaching the midpoint mark at the end of May.

He’s not speaking out of school, for the group – backboned by experienced medal-winners like himself – held their own meeting in the aftermath of feeling the blues.

“To be honest, we need to get the finger out,” asserted the 34-year-old.

“We as players have spoken openly about that because Shels or Derry will put a run together. We can’t be left behind.

“Not every team will keep drawing, losing and slipping up.

“This is the most open since I’ve come back to Rovers (in 2018) but we as players need to galvanise ourselves and put a run together.

“We weren’t happy getting a point at Dalymount - we should be winning that game.” 

Rovers have won just once in five – that 4-0 drubbing of Drogheda – but the notion of them requiring the returning Jack Byrne and Neil Farrugia to fully hit their stride isn’t shared by Greene.

“People talk about our injured players but, not being rude, we