Hat-trick hero Troy Parrott has Ireland believing again

You couldn’t help but think this might be a turning point, the day when this generation of Irish footballers turned from callow boys to men

Ireland’s Troy Parrott and Séamus Coleman celebrate after the match against Hungary at Puskás Aréna. Picture: Stephen Gormley/Inpho

You love sport for days like this.

Ireland played Hungary twice in three months. They led for about 90 seconds in total of those 180 minutes. But they were the seconds that counted. From the depths of despair against Armenia to the heights of ecstasy in Budapest in just 68 days, Ireland can now dream about the World Cup in North America for at least another four months.