For the season that's in it this is a magical fairytale about bringing joy to the world. It’s a true story but it’s also a Troy story.
And this fairytale awaits a happy ending with Troy Parrott and his Republic of Ireland team-mates making it to next summer’s World Cup for the first time in over two decades.
His hat-trick in Budapest was unforgettable; the sporting moment of the year without a doubt.
Ireland’s three wins in a row against Armenia, Portugal and Hungary were as unlikely and as unexpected as a Troy Parrott hat-trick away from home against a higher ranked team. If Evan Ferguson had not been injured Parrott might not even have been on the pitch against Portugal in Dublin.
"The stuff you dream about as a kid" - Troy Parrott
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But mystic Troy Parrott predicted it was going to happen.
In the first of what would become three Troy Parrott interviews in five days, the AZ Alkmaar striker was presented as the player put forward for the pre-match feature interview for RTÉ following Ireland training in Abbotstown the day before the Portugal match. Match day minus one in FIFA speak!
Ronaldo and some of the best footballers in the world were coming to town and in truth nobody gave Ireland much hope although a narrow defeat in Lisbon the previous month followed by a win against Armenia left a tiny chink of light shining on our dwindling expectations.
The scene was the vast indoor arena at the Sport Campus National Training Centre and Troy arrived with FAI media officer Kieran Crowley. Cameras and lights had already been set but often these opportunities have to be rushed with training schedules so tight.
However Troy Parrott was in no hurry and assured us that he had plenty of time. He had been absent through injury for the early part of the campaign but was back in the squad and fully fit.
Heimir Hallgrimsson had made the point that he was the top scorer in Europe when he got injured and he was glad to welcome him back especially because injury was to deprive him of the services of Evan Ferguson up front.
During the lengthy chat Troy was thoughtful and considered. He took his time to think about the questions and to answer without a hint of footballer cliché.
"I’m in a good place right now. I’m feeling good, feeling sharp, feeling fit - feeling really confident."
He spoke about the difference in mindset from a players point of view - knowing you are going to be a starter rather than waiting for your opportunity off the bench. At that stage the players didn’t know the team but Parrott wasn’t going to let that get in the way of his manifesting.
"The chance is there for us now to go and do something special."
And so it came to pass, two goals against Portugal for the boy from Belvedere and the second Troy Parrott interview of the trilogy as he inevitably claimed the player of the match award on the pitch at the Aviva.
"This is the best night I ever had in my life," he said, but he was nevertheless quick to point out that he truly believed when so many others didn’t.
"I told ya, I told you yesterday," he reminded us.
He made the point that there was a feeling shared among the players and staff that something special was needed if Ireland were to make it to a World Cup play-off and something special is exactly what we got.
The scene shifts along with expectations and we are now at the commentary position high up in the impressive Puskas Arena in Budapest. It’s Sunday morning and The Brendan O’Connor Show on RTÉ Radio 1 want to do a piece previewing the game.
There is a lightness and a buoyancy in the air as 3,000 Irish fans make themselves heard. I talk about "the miracle of Lansdowne Road" and the sending off of Ronaldo that has meant Ireland’s win and Parrott’s two goals have made headlines all around the world.
Brendan asks can we do it and with the faint memory of a Bob the Builder song or a Barack Obama campaign slogan I answered.. "Yes we can!"
Is féidir linn!
Not really sure where the optimism was coming from, perhaps a proximity to Troy Parrott, but our bubble looked like it might have burst early in the game as Hungary took the lead and gained control.
A goal down after four minutes the game was already running away from Ireland. But then a welcome lifeline as Chiedozie Ogbene won a penalty. Parrott stepped up under intense pressure, took the responsibility and drove the ball home.
Hungary restored their advantage before half-time and a draw would have been enough for them to grab second place and that play-off spot. But the longer the game went on the more nervous Dominik Szoboszlai and his Hungarian team-mates appeared.
Ten minutes of regulation time remaining and Finn Azaz dinked a delicious through ball into the path of Parrott and, almost in slow motion and with divine technique, Troy did it again.
It was almost zen like. "Let the mind go and let the body take over…"
Recently Troy spoke more about finding that flow, that groove and how he has gotten better recently at discovering the key to that elusive quality.
It was almost time for Darragh Maloney and Ray Houghton to announce the player of the match chosen by Ray but this game was now very much in the balance. The reporter position is pitchside close to the Irish bench and through a maze of cables, wires and headphones, the reporter is connected to the commentators and producer in the stadium and the programme editor back in Dublin.
Kieran Crowley, the FAI media officer, came to ask had we chosen the player of the match yet and we both thought it was too early.
"I think we are going to do it," declared Crowley as the 90 minutes had passed and the referee had indicated another six minutes to go.
"I think so too," I replied.
It was, perhaps, written in the stars but another miracle wouldn’t have happened without absolute commitment and effort from every Irishman on the pitch.
Adam Idah’s introduction made a difference. Johnny Kenny almost scored on his debut but was denied by an inspired Hungarian keeper. Troy Parrott chased and harried with time up now up and the hurried clearance landed at the feet of Caoimhín Kelleher.
His deft punt forward was flicked on by Liam Scales and then in an instant Troy Parrott let the mind go and let the body take over. Cue mayhem and magic all over the world.
90+5mins: 🇭🇺 2-3 🇮🇪
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 16, 2025
Ireland holds its breath, on the last throw of the dice... Hattrick for Parrott 😮😮😮😮😮😮😮
📺 @rte2 @rteplayer https://t.co/xaKTb2LBVG
📻 @rteradio1 https://t.co/PEszeaDYyf
📱Updates: https://t.co/TC5xt2IxRd pic.twitter.com/Ags3WrAwOz
This was a moment, a football moment, that captured the imagination of the country in a way which hadn’t been done since Robbie Brady’s goal in Lille or Robbie Keane’s goal in Ibaraki.
A next generation’s Italia 90, if you will.
Ray Houghton, who almost owned the copyright on Irish football’s fairytales, screamed in joy. Darragh Maloney lost his voice having used it brilliantly to describe the moment while pitchside, as the players slid on the turf in front of me in ecstasy, I let out a roar, unable to stand up without disconnecting myself from the broadcast.
Soon enough, Troy arrived over for the post-match interview and fate decreed that our position happened to be quite close to where the Parrott family had gathered.
Overcome with emotion he went to embrace his nearest and dearest, like Robbie Brady after his goal against Italy at the Euros on 2016.
It was a touching, beautiful moment.
FT: 🇭🇺 2-3 🇮🇪
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 16, 2025
An emotional Troy Parrott reacts to securing a play-off place for Ireland in Budapest.
'This is why we love football because things like this can happen... I love where I'm from, my family are here, this means the world to me.'
📺 @rte2 @rteplayer pic.twitter.com/JnWcRdmt4b
And so to the interview. After all the bad days, the disappointments that this group have endured this was a welcome balm. Letting Troy take in the scene, letting him reflect, consider and breathe in the joy, letting the tears flow…this was as good as it gets.
Troy spoke about what his family means to him, what his home means to him, and where he’s from means to him. Like Kellie Harrington, Wes Houlihan and Barry Keoghan he represents his area and his country in the very best way possible.
And then the players went to celebrate with the Irish fans in Budapest, high up in the 'Gods’ in the Puskas arena. But the Football Gods were smiling on Ireland that night and on one man in particular.
This truly was the Troy Story but let the story continue with two more chapters at least, in Prague and Dublin before dreaming of Guadalajara, Atlanta and Mexico City.
As Troy himself says he will always have that night in Budapest for the rest of his life but there are more nights to come that will really make it all worthwhile.
"It’s not an ‘if’…it’s a ‘when’."
When we qualify for the World Cup.
