It could have been the night where Troy Parrott helped his country to World Cup qualification.
Instead, for all the red hot striker's endeavour, it was an end to his international scoring streak in a 0-0 draw against North Macedonia.
Five goals in four memorable days to secure wins over Portugal and Hungary last November thrust the Dubliner into the limelight, the poster boy for a revival in Irish football and a household name among old and young.
That burden of expectation appeared to weigh lightly on his shoulders in Prague when his cool penalty gave the Boys in Green an early advantage in the World Cup play-off semi-final away to Czechia.
Ultimately a two-goal lead was surrendered before penalties – where the AZ Alkmaar frontman was again on target – sealed Ireland's fate.
Instead of a winner-takes-all-clash at home to Denmark, it was a game against a North Macedonia side that appeared to have little interest in the fixture.
🇮🇪 0-0 🇲🇰
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 31, 2026
It's not Parrott's night! For the second time he has a goal chalked off for offside. A very tight call
📱Updates: https://t.co/dJCd9OdEN3
📺Watch: https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7 pic.twitter.com/wNcaJnT2tE
Parrott’s quest to score for a fourth successive international game fell short, though he couldn’t have come much closer. The former Spurs man had the ball in the back of the net twice only to see the offside flag raised on both occasions, while he was also denied by the post.
Asked whether he felt Ireland deserved to win, the 24-year-old said: "To be honest, I probably put some of the blame on myself. I had a lot of chances to score and I didn’t. I wasn’t good enough in front of goal today.
"That’s the most important thing. We did our best, we came up short (against Czechia) but now we have come back. This was always going to be a difficult game for us to get up for, for us and the fans, so to see so many of them here cheering us on in a friendly on a Tuesday night, it really warms my heart."
🇮🇪 0-0 🇲🇰
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 31, 2026
'I had a lot of chances to score and I didn't…this was always going to be a difficult game for us and the fans’ – Troy Parrott reflects on the goalless draw
📱Updates: https://t.co/dJCd9OdEN3
📺Watch: https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7 pic.twitter.com/Dn3EayQxe2
After a huge travelling support in Prague, there were fears of a drop-off at Aviva Stadium. With an official attendance of 39,560, Parrott says it reinforces the bond between the team and the Irish public.
"The connection that we have built, that was missing for a few years, to see it back and so many people happy," he said.
"For me personally, to see so many kids with my name on signs, and calling my name, it was a dream come true."
