Troy Parrott: 'Please stick with us at times like this'

Striker says: “It is times like this, where I'm so, so happy, where I come from" after Ireland's World Cup dream ends in heartbreak

Ireland's Troy Parrott dejected after the match

Troy Parrott has urged fans to “stick with us at times like this” after his Irish team’s World Cup finals dream were dashed in Czechia.

The Boys In Green took a 2-0 lead early on in Prague, only to be pegged back late in the game before heartbreak in a penalty shootout.

But Parrott, who opened the scoring with a penalty of his own, said that he was "gutted" that Ireland couldn't get over the line.

Speaking in a post-match interview with RTÉ, he said: “We felt it. We felt it all week.

“We knew how much this meant to everyone.

“I'm just really, really gutted that we couldn't do it for everyone that has supported us, all of the Irish that are back home that's been supporting us.

Thank you - stick with us.

“It is times like this, where I'm so, so happy, where I come from.” 

Finn Azaz and Alan Browne missed the crucial spot kicks in the shootout, but Parrott refused to blame either player.

He explained: "It really takes a lot of nerve to step up there and take a penalty.

“So for sure, there'll be no blame for me or my teammates.

“I respect them even more for stepping up in that situation and taking a penalty.

“They didn't have to. They could have said no. They could have said they didn't want to take it.

“I'm proud of the team that I'm a part of, and I'm proud of every Irish person that's supporting us as well.” 

Ireland now turn their focus to the Nations League campaign which begins in June.

Before that, they face North Macedonia in a friendly on Tuesday night in Dublin.