Parrott’s Budapest stunner voted Ireland’s sporting moment of 2025
HERO OF HUNGARY: Ireland colleagues clear the way for the man of the hour, Troy Parrott , after his epic hat-trick nicked a World Cup play-off berth from Hungary's grasp at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest. Ireland will travel to Prague to play Czechia in March and look to secure a play off final spot for five days later - potentially against Denmark. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
The stud-poke heard around the world has made a lasting mark on the Irish public.
Troy Parrott's sinew-stretching 95th-minute winner in Budapest last month, which kept Ireland's hopes of making it back to a FIFA World Cup for the first time in 24 years alive, has been voted as the most memorable sporting moment of 2025.
The annual Teneo Sport and Sponsorship Index, compiled by the communications and consultancy firm, found that the striker's late, late intervention against Hungary has reaped big rewards for the sport and for Parrott himself when it comes to the nation's affections.
For the first time in the nearly two-decade history of the Index, the Ireland Men's national football team have been selected as Team of the Year while Parrott finished runner-up in the race to be seen as the country's most-admired athlete.
For the ninth year in a row, that honour went to Katie Taylor, the Bray boxer also seeing her trilogy victory over Amanda Serrano among the top five moments of the year. Taylor was named by 14% of respondents as the most admired sportsperson of the year while Parrott, who scored five goals in the space of four days to help clinch pivotal victories over both Portugal and Hungary, garnered 10% of votes.
The annual end-of-year survey, which examines the Irish public’s attitudes towards sport and their sporting heroes, canvassed 1,000 people with quotas across gender, region, age and social class.
There was plenty of love for the country's leading golfing duo too with Rory McIlroy taking third place (7%) after completing the career Grand Slam at Augusta, followed by close friend and Ryder Cup hero Shane Lowry in fourth (6%).
For the eight year in a row, Gaelic games (Gaelic football, ladies Gaelic football, hurling and camogie) was voted Ireland’s Favourite Sport, receiving 21% of the vote. However its advantage over the rest was as narrow as possible with Soccer (men’s and women’s) rising to 20%.
As attentions begin to turn towards the coming sporting year, it is clear that Parrott's heroics have the country locked in for the next steps on the road to the World Cup — and the tournament itself. In spite of some potentially sleep-depriving kickoff times across the US, Canada and Mexico-hosted tournament next June and July. The World Cup was selected as the most anticipated sporting event of 2026 with 21% of the vote, ahead of the Six Nations Championship on 18%. Ireland's World Cup play-offs in March, where Heimir Hallgrimsson's side will first face Czechia away before a possible home decider against Denmark or Macedonia, ranks third on 16%.
“What a year it’s been for Irish sport. Drama, excitement, last-minute magic - Irish athletes delivered it all. From 95th minute winners to birdie putts to a wave of new PBs, Ireland once again made its mark on the global stage, and our research shows just how much these performances resonated with the Irish public," said Kelli O’Keeffe, Managing Director, Teneo Sports Advisory.
“The heroics of the Ireland men’s football team have lit up the country. Troy Parrott’s incredible goals have shot him straight into second place in our most admired athlete list, right behind Katie Taylor, who holds on to the top spot for an incredible ninth year in a row."
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