As it happened: Troy Parrott's late strike completes hat-trick, Ireland comeback and seals playoff spot
HAT-TRICK HERO: Troy Parrott celebrates after scoring the winner. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.
4.57pm Some scenes in Dublin airport as the goal went in.
📍 A pub at Dublin Airport when troy parrot scored in 90+6#Aviation #Avgeek #DublinAiroort #COYBIG #HUNIRL
— Shauns_Aviation🇮🇪✈️ (@Shauns_Aviation) November 16, 2025
pic.twitter.com/SFKzma4iAU
4.54pm 'Everyone's crying': Troy Parrott in tears as he sends Ireland to dreamland.
Iconic. pic.twitter.com/guYZX9apSm
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) November 16, 2025
4.41pm Thursday midday for the playoff draw. Four teams, two semis, two winners progress to the final and the winner of that goes to the World Cup.
What happens next if Ireland beat Hungary on Sunday? John Fallon explains.
Hungary v Ireland player ratings: Parrott the star as Boys in Green seal stunning win in Hungary.
Love the fact Ireland are just watching the goal over and over again, like the rest of us pic.twitter.com/7UWflqTvhE
— Maurice Brosnan (@m_brosnan) November 16, 2025
Our man John Fallon brings us this quick video report from Budapest.
It was a famous win for the Boys in Green in Budapest @JFallonExaminer pic.twitter.com/FRta543EGF
— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) November 16, 2025
RTÉ showing the Parrott goal again and again, can't blame them.
Troy Parrott, take your place on the pantheon of Irish greats 🇮🇪pic.twitter.com/KATKNMZO4g
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) November 16, 2025
What happens now for Ireland after late win over Hungary? Find out below.
Troy Parrott's quotes to come shortly on our website, will post here as well. Brilliant assist by Scales again for the winner seeing it back.
Portugal have won 9-1 so the Republic of Ireland finish second. We'll take it, I guess.
John Fallon will try to put it into words shortly.
I can't write. Ireland have won it 3-2. Troy Parrott hat-trick.
90+4mins Ireland throw in. Now another one.
Ireland long throw cleared for another long throw. Free out. Idah puts his hands on the defender and the referee gives a free out.
Corner Ireland. Cleared. Double sub for Hungary but Ireland have a throw.
Johnny Kenny almost wins it for Ireland but what a save by the keeper.
Sallai receiving treatment. Surely plenty of injury time.
Festy loses the ball and then concedes the foul.
CLOSE! The free falls to O'Shea eventually and his shot flashes across goal and is cleared.
Manning wins Ireland a free on the left flank. Ireland to get nearly everyone in the box.
Varga heads the corner wide.
Szoboszlai almosts ends Ireland's hopes but after he cut inside the box, his shot is brilliantly saved by Kelleher, his former clubmate.
Azaz fancies this now as he picks out a couple of excellent forward passes. Idah over eager though and fouls.
Hungary corner but it comes to nothing.
GAME ON! What a finish by Parrott. Azaz hasn't been great but that was a great through ball and Parrott lifts it past the keeper. Brilliant.
Long throw in by Festy, headed clear.
Collins jumps in the air looking for a foul. Sallai races forward and his powerful drive from a tight angle is turned over by Kelleher.
Azaz loses the ball. Styles finds Varga but his goalbound effort is well blocked by Scales, who then clears. Great defending.
Hungary sitting deep and allowing Ireland on the ball. Ireland surely will start going more and more direct, can cause Hungary problems that way, have done already.
Think Johnny Kenny is the first Irish senior international appearance for a Sligo man since Paul McGee 45 years, one month and one day ago.
The Puskas arena is bouncing. Ireland need two goals. 20 minutes remaining.
Szoboszlai's free is headed towards goal but Kelleher gathers with ease.
Azaz cross finds Idah but he heads over the bar. Difficult chance, in fairness.
Festy to take a long throw-in. Takes it short to Manning instead, his cross finds Collins but the captain can't find a teammate in the box.
Ireland have lost their way, Hemir makes a double sub. Festy and Kenny on for Molumby and Coleman.
Let off for Ireland. Lukacs looks to be in on goal but Collins does well to put him off.
Adam Idah coming on for Ogbene.
Oh no, blow for Ireland as Ogbene pulls up with what appears to be a hamstring injury.
Hallgrimsson talked to Festy at half time. Likely to be on a some stage.
Coleman wins Ireland a free. Cullen launches it into the box and it almost breaks for Parrott. Ireland getting opportunities from set pieces, Hungary don't look comfortable.
Ireland sub: Ryan Manning on for Jake O'Brien.
Much to do for Ireland in the second half if they’re to leapfrog Hungary to clinch the playoff spot at the death.
Similar to the first match between the sides, it’s been an open affair with Hungary blazing ahead after just four minutes Dániel Lukács who looked marginally offside from Dominik Szoboszlai.
There was no disputing the legitimacy nor quality of Varga’s second, a rocket of a volley into the top corner eight minutes before the interval Troy Parròtt has brought Ireland to parity, converting his penalty to increase his tally to three goals in two matches.
Ireland are well capable of penetrating Hungary but knew early on two goals were required to complete what Heimir Hallgrímsson branded a miracle after defeat in Armenia indicated the campaign was over after just two qualifiers.
John Fallon to send us his half time thoughts from Budapest shortly.
Long throw breaks to Azaz but he fires his half volley well over.
O'Brien set to take a long throw. Elsewhere Portugal lead 5-1.
Should be 2-2. Azaz's cross to the back post finds the run of O'Brien but he sidefoots wide from a few yards out. Should've scored.
Szalai booked for a foul on Ogbene.
Coleman does brilliant and wins a free close to the corner flag. Cullen clips it in but it's a free out.
Stop in play for a clash of heads.
What a goal. Varga controls, turns on the edge of the box and blasts the ball into the far top right corner. Ireland's centre backs just watch as it happens though, nobody got close as he controlled it.
This is how close the Hungary goal was to being disallowed.
Kelleher under pressure drops a Hungary cross but Scales hammers the ball clear.
Cullen wins a free on the edge of his own box. Ireland will take their time with it.
Portugal now lead 3-1. No need to think about that game anymore then.
What a save by Kelleher. Brilliant cross from the right in behind the defence, Sallain connects with it right in front of goal but the Cork man makes the stop.
Hungary keep the ball but are going nowhere. A long ball over the top makes it's way to Kelleher, much to the frustration of the home team and home fans.
Foul by O'Brien after a heavy touch. Not the best of positions for the cross though. But they do have Szoboszlai. It comes to nothing though.
Ireland playing the better football at the moment. Crowd getting nervous.
Brilliant penalty by Parrott, buries it in the bottom left corner. 1-1, brilliant response by Ireland after a terrible start.
Troy Parrott to take.
Ball over the top and Ogbene appeals for a penalty. He was kicked there, surely.
Cullen's corner, Scales wins the header at the back post and Ogbene sees a goalbound effort blocked.
Good response by Ireland, they win a corner.
In the other game in the group Portugal lead Armenia 1-0.
VAR are checking it. Goal stands. Short corner headed home by Lukacs. Terrible start for Ireland. But Hungary have started with a really high tempo. Ireland need to keep the ball for a bit, try to take the sting out of the game.
Dangerous low corner to the near posts by Szoboszlai is cleared for another corner. He hits another low one and Scales clears for another corner.
Szoboszlai's inswinging free takes a touch off Coleman and goes out for a corner.
Here we go and Hungary already on the attack. Dara O'Shea gives away a free on the right.
Teams lining up for a minute's applause in memory of a former Hungary manager that passed away.
Close to 3,000 fans in the away end, they'll be sure to make their voices heard throughout.
Here comes the times. COYBIG! Sorry, bit unprofessional of me!
Ray Houghton out on the pitch in Budapest talking to RTÉ. Hopefully that's a good omen. Could do with someone to replicate his wonder goal against Italy.
1.44pm Here is a reminder of how the teams line-up.
Kelleher, Coleman, Collins, O'Shea, O'Brien, Scales, Cullen, Molumby, Azaz, Ogbene, Parrott.
Bazunu, Travers, Kenny, Idah, Dunne, Coventry, Taylor, Egan, Manning, McGrath, Johnston, Ebosele.
Dibusz, Kerkez, Szalai, Orban, Nego, Sallai, Schaffer, Toth, Szoboszlai, Lukacs, Varga.
Heimir Hallgrímsson says he is unsure how Hungary will set up speaking to RTÉ before the match.
He's made one change from the Portugal match and he says Jayson Molumby would've started over Jack Taylor... he doesn't really explain why, I'm guessing he wasn't fully fit.
Right, the countdown to kick off is well and truly on. Just 30 minutes to go and below you can read how both teams are lining out.
And the Ireland team news is in. Heimir Hallgrímsson makes one change to Ireland team for decisive World Cup qualifier with Hungary.
Ok, I know I said on Thursday that today was the day. But today really is the day.
Ireland’s heroic must-win win against Portugal on Thursday has now set up this must-win clash against Hungary in Budapest where another heroic effort will be needed.
My name is Andrew Horgan and I will be keeping you up to date on the best of the action from the Puskás Arena where Ireland know another victory will see them snatch a playoff spot.
Team news will be announced shortly so I will be back with that as soon as it’s announced with regular updates following from 1.30pm ahead of the 2pm kick.
Until then, feel free to read the best of the preview pieces from our website which you can find below.
What happens next if Ireland beat Hungary on Sunday? John Fallon explains.
Hungary boss Rossi: Ireland are 'frighteningly dangerous' from set-pieces.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
