Enda Stevens - It's something to build on, a clean sheet in the Aviva

Former UCD, St. Patrick's Athletic and Shamrock Rovers defender Enda Stevens had his name up in lights on Saturday, as the 28 year old made his first competitive appearance at the Aviva Stadium. 

Stevens made his way on at half time and speaking after the scoreless stalemate with Denmark he said that his appearance was due to Callum O'Dowda suffering a head injury.

“We didn’t the charge the format it was the same,” said Stevens about coming on for the second half. “I swapped with James (McClean) and then James went into where Callum played. Callum got a bang to the head so we couldn’t take any risk on him”

The Sheffield United player felt the game was a difficult one but that ultimately a draw was a fair outcome. 

“We were good in spells. I thought in the first half we started off really well we had a couple of chances and probably should have took the lead. Denmark kinda came into it in the second half. It was tough to get up the pitch. We had chances and they had chances so overall a draw was a fair result. 

“Denmark were trying just to kinda frustrate the crowd and and slow the tempo of the game. We found it difficult kinda to get up the pitch. We got a foothold in the second half, about 10 minutes probably 15 minutes in.

"We created a few chances and the crowd really got behind us and you go and look to go win the game.”

Stevens now has his four caps for the Republic of Ireland and is relishing the opportunity to keep playing in front of his hometown crowd in Dublin.

“Yeah I’m loving it. It is a good experience, especially coming on in the Aviva, in front of what 40 odd thousand. It was a great experience for me.”

Ireland managed to keep a clean sheet for the first time since playing Denmark away last November in the World Cup play off and Stevens feels that it is was a real positive going into Wales on Tuesday.



“It’s something to build on - a clean sheet in the Aviva and now we look into Tuesday looking to build on that”.

It was a new style of formation for the boys in green last night as Martin O’Neill opted for a 3-5-2 formation playing with a new found purpose.

They managed to reduce Denmark to only having three shots on target. Stevens heaped praise on the new formation and performance as a whole.

“I think we had a good shape throughout the game. They didn’t really cut us open or cause us any problems. With set pieces they were a bit dangerous and with balls into the box. I thought the three at the back were excellent.

"I thought ‘Longy’ (Kevin Long) was outstanding and dealt with everything.  It was easy for me to come on with the them boys playing that well”.

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