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Ireland's Hero Shines In Dramatic Last-Gasp Qualification Bid

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Ireland's Golden Boy

All credits must go to the frontman, just for the five goals in two games (two against Portugal I have not mentioned) to put the nation on the back of his shoulders and give Ireland their best shot of World Cup qualification for the first time since 2002.

Today proved that, quite frankly, nothing beats a last-minute winner. The most important touch of his career thus far and a touch that sent the travelling Irish faithful into pandemonium as Hungarian heads dropped to the grass surface. Look how much it meant to the Irish camp.

Troy Parrott, take your place on the pantheon of Irish greats 🇮🇪pic.twitter.com/KATKNMZO4g
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) November 16, 2025

Hector Hallgrimsson’s men had to maintain composure in an atmosphere designed for quite the contrary in Budapest courtesy of the Hungarian fans in their numbers. Yet, the biggest of occasions are where heroes are made, and Parrott needed no reminding that his country needed him to step up. The AZ Alkmaar frontman has found his feet in the Netherlands, scoring 13 goals in 14 appearances so far this season. Having struggled to make a real impact in England in his Tottenham days, including underwhelming loan spells at Millwall and Ipswich Town, a change of environment and consistent run of games has done the world of good for the Irishman.

A Statement Performance in Green

Today's display has made it ten senior international goals for the Ireland number seven. Having made his senior international debut in a friendly victory over New Zealand in 2019, Parrott has struggled to consistently feature for The Boys in Green, subject to strong competition from exciting prospect Evan Ferguson. Whilst the five in this camp are no doubt the most important of the tally, a friendly fixture against Hungary last year saw Parrott net a stoppage-time winner to steer his nation to victory. I am sure that many Hungarian fans had déjà vu today, having experienced the same fate at a much more drastic cost.

A Tale of The Tape

A composed penalty in the first half levelled the scores after Ireland found themselves behind early, just the start of what would be a World Cup qualifier to remember. As the second half wore on, it looked for all the world that Hungary was heading through, but a rare opening for Ireland and Parrott, who kept his composure and lobbed the goalkeeper to level the scores with just ten minutes to spare. A close affair in the group's other game (it was anything but close, by the way) meant that only a win would do for the away side to keep the World Cup dream alive, and at the last chance saloon, up stepped that man again to create a priceless piece of Irish football history.

1 - Troy Parrott is the first player in Republic of Ireland's history to score a hat-trick away from home. Astonishing. pic.twitter.com/2sBXuombnG
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 16, 2025

Credits to Caoimhin

In the moments of uncertainty, rest assured that the Irish No. 1 was on hand to keep his nation alive. Kelleher has built quite the repertoire for himself during the qualifying campaign, and today's performance should have Liverpool wondering what on earth they were thinking in letting him go. Hadn't it been for two very separate moments, one worthy of winning any game of football, the keeper may have had a very unexpected clean sheet to his name. As for the other, Ireland are right to feel hard done by as appears to have been a strong offside claim subject to Daniel Lukacs nodding home.

Since Hungarian TV seems determined not to show their goal again, here it is. The bloke (16) is offside. pic.twitter.com/sJ0IT3gQl0
— Jonathan O'Brien (@obrien_jonathan) November 16, 2025

Following a man-of-the-match display in a famous win over group leaders Portugal, Kelleher was at hand to prevent a barrage of Hungarian chances as Hallgrimsson and Ireland took more and more risk in searching for joy at the other end. A great achievement for the Icelandic native, having led his Ireland side to within touching distance of their first World Cup appearance in over 20 years. Perhaps it may be a step too far to take any player of the match claims from Parrott today, but if there was anybody else with a reasonable sniff, then don't look past the Irishman in between the sticks.

Place in the Playoffs

Today's victory means that Ireland will compete in the new-look FIFA playoff tournament and will find out their semi-final opponent when the draw commences on Thursday 20th November at 12pm GMT. Ireland currently hold a position in Pot 3, meaning they will be the away side, yet could have the opportunity to move to Pot 3 if North Macedonia avoid defeat in Wales on Tuesday evening. Whilst not having a great track record in World Cup playoffs, with one win in four attempts (defeating Iran 2-1 to qualify in 2002), optimism seems high, and it seems that there is a certain name floating around restoring the nation's hopes.