CREDIT: SPORTSFILE
Four of the most remarkable days in Irish football history. Pride restored. A new hero is born. And fans are dreaming of a return to the biggest stage of all for the first time since 2002.
On Thursday night just before kick-off against Portugal, the general consensus was that we were playing merely for pride against the impressive Portuguese, themselves on the brink of confirming their place at World Cup 2026. We on the other hand were wishing for a result that would somehow keep alive our hopes for the final qualifier away against Hungary in Budapest, to avoid a dead rubber. The notion was that the best that we could muster against the Portuguese would be a gutsy, backs against the wall draw, meaning that we would need to beat the Hungarians at least 2-0 in their own backyard.
Ireland did even better than that.
In front of a raucous crowd in Lansdowne Road, Portugal were dispatched 2-0. Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for the first time in international football (despite his promise to be a “good boy”) and Troy Parrott’s first half double ensured that Ireland had their most important qualifying win since beating Germany in qualification for Euro 2016.
Heimir Hallgrimsson and his coaching team executed their game plan perfectly, the home side never looked in any danger and the players were magnificently disciplined in their performance. Playing to their strengths they were brilliantly composed and concentrated. This night was a call back to classic games in the old Lansdowne Road. Hero of the hour Parrott said after the game “I’m overwhelmed. I think it’s probably the best night I’ve had in my whole life.”
But who would have thought that the best was yet to come for Troy and all Irish fans?
Moving on to Hungary, the boys in green knew that a win would seal their place in the World Cup play-offs. What followed was the stuff of dreams. A famous last gasp win to secure a play-off spot. And Troy Parrott was the hero once more, scoring a hat-trick.
This is a night that will go down in Irish football folklore. Our heroes in white gave absolutely everything, to recover resolutely, coming from behind twice to win in the magnificent Puskas Arena.
Daniel Lukacs’ fourth-minute header gave Hungary the lead, Troy Parrott coolly slotted home his penalty to bring Ireland level, however Barnabas Varga’s stunning strike restored the home side’s lead before the break, and our task looked almost insurmountable. However – in a nail-biting second half, Parrott’s deft finish 10 minutes from time gave us hope, then when Johnny Kenny was denied by Dibuzs in the Hungary goal, it looked as if our chance had gone. However, in insane scenes Parrott poked home the winner in the 96th-minute after Liam Scales’s knockdown to spark delirium in the stands and disbelief among the Hungarian fans. It felt absolutely surreal. We were in a daze as what was happening in front of our eyes. Absolute pandemonium. The picture of Troy straining every sinew to somehow poke the ball home with his studs will live long in the memory.
Heroic performances all round. Caoimhín Kelleher made some crucial saves across the two games, Chiedozie Ogbene was a constant outlet for his teammates, Nathan Collins was a rock at the back, Dara O’Shea blocked everything, Seamus Coleman rolled back the years and played as if he was in his prime. But in truth it would be unfair to single out individuals. This was very much a collective, team effort. Each of the players played their part and contributed to a wonderful end to a campaign that looked dead and buried after only two matches and a shambolic performance against Armenia in Yerevan.
But who could ignore the hero of the hour? Five goals across two matches, the first time an Irish international has scored a hat-trick away from home. And a new hero in playgrounds across the country.
Speaking after the game, a visibly moved Parrott said “I’m really, really emotional. They’re tears of joy. Ah, what a night, what a night. This is why we love football because things like this can happen. Look, I love where I’m from, so this means the world to me. My family is here…It’s the first time I’ve cried in years as well, I really, really can’t believe it. Everyone is crying. I said against Portugal that this is what dreams are made of, but this tonight, I don’t think I’ll ever have a better night in my whole life.”
I think that a fair few Ireland fans shed some tears of joy while watching that interview.
The connection between the Irish public and their national team has been restored. Since Sunday night there have been online queues for Ireland season tickets, memes about Credit Union loans to finance trips to the World Cup, lots of humour directed towards Ronaldo and Szoboslai and even an airport social media account cheekily renamed in Troy’s honour.
Following Ireland is not always easy, we have experienced more than our fair share of low points, disappointments and dark days, but this week there is a feeling of euphoria that we have not seen since the halcyon days of Euro ’88, Italia ’90, USA ’94, Japan and South Korea 2002 and France 2016.
A new generation of Ireland fans are experiencing the feeling of those heady days and results, and this feels so good because in Ireland the connection between the public and the national team is truly something special and unique. It unites us like no other sport. Now just imagine how the feeling will be if we qualify for this World Cup!
We need a favour from North Macedonia and Austria to get a home draw for the first play-off game – but in reality we will take whoever comes our way because few could have dreamed of this prior to the Portugal game.
To qualify, we are to win four huge games in a row. Half of the job has been done after wins over Portugal and Hungary, now we need to complete the task with back-to-back play-off wins in March.
Can we do it? With these players, this Manager, and our fans all in it together – you bet we can. Bring it on!