"He saluted the team's resilience after his brilliant hat-trick kept their World Cup dream alive in dramatic fashion. The 23-year-old AZ Alkmaar striker, who scored both goals in Thursday night's remarkable 2-0 win over Portugal, fired Ireland into second place in Group F and March's play-offs with a winner deep into stoppage time as they twice fought back from a goal down to beat Hungary 3-2 in Budapest."
"Josie Parrott was emotional after watching her grandson have the best few days of his life and giving the country one of our best, too. "Do you ever get a lump in your throat?" Mrs Parrott told RTÉ. "He's just doing so good - It's great, great to see. Five goals in one weekend, who does that?" Who indeed - though of course Portland Row in inner city Dublin, where Parrott was raised, is no stranger to sporting prowess."
A 23-year-old AZ Alkmaar striker scored a hat-trick to secure a dramatic 3-2 win over Hungary in Budapest and keep Ireland's World Cup hopes alive. He had also scored both goals in a 2-0 victory over Portugal earlier in the week, moving Ireland into second place in Group F and into March play-offs. Family members celebrated, with grandmother Josie Parrott saying she felt emotional and noting five goals in one weekend. Parrott's home in Portland Row is decorated with Irish flags. Uncle Christopher McAuley described an ecstatic pub atmosphere, shouting until his voice went and biting his fingers.
Read at Irish Independent
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