Troy Parrott: 'We have a lot of heart. I'm really, really sure we will be back'

Republic of Ireland's Troy Parrott (left) and goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher applaud the fans. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire.

After the disappointment of Prague and the World Cup play-off penalty shoot-out defeat to Czechia, the scoreless draw with North Macedonia was somewhat predictable.

Officially a sell-out – the Aviva can hold 51,700.

But the official attendance was 39,560, in what was a family occasion. No less than 19 players were used by Heimir Hallgrimsson who gave international debuts to both James Abankwah and Bosun Lawal.

Despite not finding the net for the first time in four matches, Troy Parrott picked up the man of the match award. Although he felt he didn't deserve it.

“Look, tonight, things shouldn't be mine, but I'll accept it,” said the Dubliner. “So, yeah, I wasn't good enough in front of goal tonight."

On his chances, including a couple of tight offside decisions, the striker stated: “The first, maybe, offside. The second one, I mean, if we've VAR here tonight, it's probably a goal. I've seen that. I think it was an onside. Well, that's the way it goes. No VAR. It's the one that I actually do score is actually onside. So, yeah, it's a shame.” 

The AZ Alkmaar front man asked for the Irish football fans to stay and support the team after the loss in Prague and he believes there is now a real connection with the public and the Boys in Green.

“Yeah, look, I think that's the most important thing, I think for us, we've done our best, but came up short in Prague. But now we've come back here (to Dublin) and look, this was always going to be a difficult game."

Parrott added: “To see so many children here, cheering us on in a friendly on a Tuesday night. Look, it really warms my heart."

The 24-year-old went on to comment: “Look, as I said, we did our best (against Czechia). We came together as a team. We came together as a country. We came together with the fans.

"We've got a lot more to play for. And we're gonna come back again. The connection that we've built now again with the fans has been missing, I think, for a few years now. 

"To see it back and to see so many people happy and, you know, look, even for me personally, to see so many kids with my name on signs and shirts, and stuff. Them calling my name. It's really a dream come true.” 

Parrott believes the future is bright with the current crop of Ireland players.

“I think it's about all of us. We're all pushing in the one direction for the country, you know. For this little country that we live in, like where we've come from. We’re small, but we have a lot of heart. I'm really, really sure we will be back.

“ I think we have a lot of young players. We’re at the age where now it's time to step up. And I'm one of them. We've all come through together. There's a big group of us that came through together. And now, it's time for us to really step up and do a job for the country.”