Editor-in-Chief Adam Schmitz recalls his experience at one of the most special nights in recent Irish football history.
When the full time whistle went on the Republic of Ireland MNT’s game in Yerevan, there was a sense that the dream was over before it had begun. The 2-1 loss to Armenia was mentioned as one of the worst results in the country’s history and it seemed as if Heimir Hallgrímsson would see Ireland out until the end of yet another disappointing qualifying campaign, only for the whole cycle to begin again. The loss was followed by a disappointing last minute defeat in Lisbon and an underwhelming 1-0 victory over the Armenians in Dublin. The optimism from the beginning of the campaign was gone and Ireland fans had consigned themselves to missing out on the 2026 World Cup. Then... Troy.
When Portugal visited Ireland in November they were expecting an easy victory and to confirm their qualification. A packed out Aviva Stadium was keen to support the Boys in Green, though there was no shortage of Ronaldo shirts and fans there to see their favourite Portuguese Premier League players. Those players, none more than Cristiano Ronaldo, were shocked by what happened next. A 17th minute opener which saw Liam Scales get his head on the ball to let Troy Parrott poke home a goal was followed by the Dublin man finding the bottom left corner in front of the South Stand just before half time. The Irish fans were in loud disbelief, creating an atmosphere that hadn’t been seen at an Ireland game in a long time. The cherry on top was when Cristiano Ronaldo, a man with nearly 100 more international goals than the Irish starting XI combined, saw a red card for violent conduct on Dara O’Shea. The jeers from the crowd were nearly as loud as the cheers half an hour later when the match ended in a two goal victory for Ireland. Some fans went home happy, more went out celebrating. Others were booking flights.
Some fans went home happy, more went out celebrating. Others were booking flights.
Just four days after the sensational win over Portugal, nearly 3000 Ireland fans made the journey to Budapest knowing that only a win would be enough to keep Ireland in contention. Automatic qualification for the tournament in North America was pretty much off the cards, but a spot in the play-offs was in the hands of the Ireland players. Green jerseys lined the streets - and the long stadium queues - ahead of the afternoon kickoff at the Ferenc Puskás Stadium in the Hungarian capital. The Portugal match had achieved the same thing as previous famous victories over the likes of the Netherlands and Germany - it had shown that anything was possible. The songs being sung by the Irish fans at the very top of the stadium prior to kickoff showed that those who travelled had that belief.
The atmosphere was dampened just three minutes into the game when the Hungarians took the lead through Dániel Lukács. Had all the hope been for nothing? Not quite. Chiedozie Ogbene won a penalty that was converted by Troy Parrott just 12 minutes after the Hungarian opener, albeit after a lengthy pause from the referee. Caoimhin Kelleher, who made five important saves throughout the game, was beaten by a sensational strike from Barnabás Varga which left the stadium in disbelief, and the Irish team 2-1 down at half time.
The second half opened with less action than the first half. Adam Idah did score an impressive equaliser which was ruled offside, but chances for Hungary and a slowing of play left the hope of Irish fans waning. “Will we still go out to the ruin bars if it ends like this?”. There was little over ten minutes to play when Troy Parrott perfectly lifted the ball over Dénes Dibusz to make the score 2-2. High above Caoimhin Kelleher’s goal there were 3000 green shirts now asking a different question: ‘Can we really do this?”.
“Will we still go out to the ruin bars if it ends like this?”. There was little over ten minutes to play when Troy Parrott perfectly lifted the ball over Dénes Dibusz to make the score 2-2. High above Caoimhin Kelleher’s goal there were 3000 green shirts now asking a different question: ‘Can we really do this?”.
Kelleher proved his class on multiple occasions, most notably in the dying minutes of the game when Dominc Szoboszlai tried to clinch the win for the home side from close range. The Hungarian side wasted time, held up play and made late substitutions in their efforts to keep the play-off spot for themselves. With all five minutes of added time complete and the sides still at two goals a piece, it appeared that Ireland would fall just short. Kelleher collected the ball at the half way line and hit a last gasp ball into the box. Liam Scales got his head on the ball. Then... Troy.
The fifth goal in two games for Troy Parrott will be the one remembered for years to come. Fans celebrated around the country in living rooms, pubs and Dublin airport. It was the guts of an hour before the 3000 Irish fans left the stadium only to move directly to Becketts, Publin and the other Irish bars of Budapest. There was a sense of happiness not felt as a fanbase in nearly a decade. Troy Parrott and his teammates had created a story that those fans could tell for years to come. Now, one question remains. Will those fans spend the future telling a story of one night in Budapest? A story of one night in Prague? Or maybe, just maybe, a story of a few weeks in Mexico.
Now, one question remains. Will those fans spend the future telling a story of one night in Budapest? A story of one night in Prague? Or maybe, just maybe, a story of a few weeks in Mexico.