'why We Love Football' - Tears Of Joy As Republic Of Ireland Keep Dream Alive

Having etched his sanction into Republic of Ireland folklore, Troy Parrott fto nan tears flow.

At nan extremity of a whirlwind 72 hours, nan striker's earthy emotion was understandable. On Thursday, Parrott upstaged Cristiano Ronaldo pinch 2 goals to descend Portugal and return nan Republic of Ireland's play-off push into nan last game.

Carrying a nation's hopes connected his backmost successful Budapest, nan 23-year-old Dubliner rose to nan juncture successful spectacular fashion.

Against Hungary, his punishment brought nan Irish level aft they fell down to an early Daniel Lukacs header. Then, aft Barnabas Varga's stunning strike, he equalised again pinch a deft decorativeness 10 minutes from time.

The Republic of Ireland needed a triumph to make nan play-offs, and aft substitute Johnny Kenny was denied, Parrott seized nan match-winning infinitesimal erstwhile he latched connected to Liam Scales' header, poked nan shot into nan Hungary nett and wheeled distant successful ecstasy successful a heart-stopping finale astatine Puskas Arena.

"I'm really, really emotional. They're tears of joy. Ah, what a night, what a night," nan AZ Alkmaar striker, who led nan statement successful Evan Ferguson's absence, told RTE.

"This is why we emotion football, because things for illustration this tin happen. Look, I emotion wherever I'm from, truthful this intends nan world to me. My family is here.

"It's nan first clip I've cried successful years arsenic well, I really, really can't judge it. Everyone is crying. I said against Portugal that this is what dreams are made of, but this tonight, I don't deliberation I'll ever person a amended nighttime successful my full life.

"That is really a fairy tale. You can't moreover dream astir thing for illustration that. Honestly, I person nary words to picture my emotions correct now."

Parrott's heroics - which saw him go nan first Republic of Ireland subordinate to people a competitory hat-trick since Robbie Keane successful 2014 - capped a run of 2 halves.

After drafting their opening qualifier pinch Hungary successful Dublin, nan Irish fell to a dismal conclusion by Armenia successful Yerevan.

And erstwhile Ruben Neves' precocious header shattered them successful Lisbon, their title looked run.

But aft exacting revenge connected Armenia, Parrott inspired them to celebrated wins complete Portugal and Hungary to support live their dream of ending a 24-year hold for World Cup football.

It is simply a singular turnaround for caput coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, who faced probing questions astir his early during nan early portion of nan campaign.

The Icelander was a astonishment prime to switch Stephen Kenny past year, but having navigated a turbulent first twelvemonth astatine nan helm, he has nan chance to emulate Jack Charlton and Mick McCarthy by starring nan Republic of Ireland connected to football's grandest stage.

His broadside will beryllium required to triumph 2 play-off games for that to happen, but they will attack those make-or-break matches successful March pinch renewed optimism aft a rollercoaster qualifying campaign.

"This infinitesimal shouldn't beryllium astir uncovering heroes; it should beryllium this team, nan spirit, this unity and difficult activity nan guys showed," said Hallgrimsson.

"I talked astir nan spiral this squad are in. Now nan adjacent crippled will beryllium bigger than this one. Portugal was big, this was bigger and nan adjacent 1 will beryllium moreover bigger and if we triumph it nan adjacent 1 will beryllium moreover bigger."

Hallgrimsson, who led Iceland to their first World Cup quality successful 2018, added: "It is simply a infinitesimal erstwhile we should deliberation astir wherever we are, it is simply a anticipation to turn and from this we tin thief this team, Irish football, nan federation and, if we suffice for nan World Cup, things mightiness alteration large time.

"That is what we are hoping."

The Republic of Ireland were past progressive successful a World Cup play-off successful November 2017.

On that occasion, they fell to a 5-1 aggregate conclusion by Denmark. The play-offs activity otherwise now, of course, and to scope adjacent summer's finals successful North America they will request to triumph 2 single-leg games successful March.

The Republic of Ireland will observe their play-off way connected Thursday. That is each to come, though. For now, Parrott and co will gladly soak up nan acclaim aft rescuing their dream successful specified melodramatic fashion.