""I'm really, really emotional. They're tears of joy. Ah, what a night, what a night," the AZ Alkmaar striker, who led the line in Evan Ferguson's absence, told RTE. "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."
"Against Hungary, his penalty brought the Irish level after they fell behind to an early Daniel Lukacs header. Then, after Barnabas Varga's stunning strike, he equalised again with a deft finish 10 minutes from time. The Republic of Ireland needed a win to make the play-offs, and after substitute Johnny Kenny was denied, Parrott seized the match-winning moment when he latched on to Liam Scales' header, poked the ball into the Hungary net and wheeled away in ecstasy in a heart-stopping finale at Puskas Arena."
Troy Parrott produced a spectacular performance, scoring three goals across two matches to propel the Republic of Ireland into the play-off final. He scored twice against Portugal then produced a penalty and two further goals in Budapest, including the stoppage-time match-winner after latching onto Liam Scales' header. Parrott's penalty had levelled the game following an early Daniel Lukacs header and he equalised again after Barnabas Varga's strike. The 23-year-old AZ Alkmaar striker became the first Irish player with a competitive hat-trick since Robbie Keane in 2014. Parrott showed raw emotion, crying tears of joy with his family present.
Read at www.bbc.com
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