Ireland striker Troy Parrott described the moment his last-minute winner against Lithuania hit the net as ‘one of the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life.’
The Aviva Stadium erupted as what looked set to be a disappointing scoreless draw transformed with virtually the last kick of the game.
The allotted five minutes of injury time had long passed when a Conor Hourihane cross was headed in the 20-year-old’s direction on the edge of the box.
His first touch was wonderful, his second even better and the third simply sublime as the on-loan Spurs striker smashed the ball on the half-volley.
The ball was in the net before keeper Dziugas Bartkus, who had denied Parrott brilliantly moments earlier, could react and Lansdowne Road erupted.
Parrott’s reaction was immediate as he made a beeline for the touchline amid what he described as ‘by far’ his best moment in football so far.
The man who grew up just a short jump across the river on Buckingham Street in the north inner city was overcome with emotion.
"I'm still shaking now. It was honestly one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life," Parrott said at the post-match press conference.
"When Conor was going to cross the ball, I was too far away from getting into the box so I kind of tried to read where the second ball was going to land and it fell straight to me.
"It felt like the ball was never going to come down. I had to take two touches before I could get the shot off but, as I said, I’m over the moon.
"As soon as it didn’t get blocked by the first man that was coming out I had a feeling it was going towards the goal. To see it hit the back of the net was crazy.
"To score the winner that late in the Aviva in front of the home fans, maybe a mile or so away from my house, is honestly incredible."
Parrott has been operated off the right wing for MK Dons of late and was named player of the month in February, having had a spell out of the side around the turn of the year.
Stephen Kenny believes the youngster’s eventual future lies as a central striker, but his versatility saw him play in all three front positions during his 30-month cameo on Tuesday.
Parrott sees himself as a striker but insists he’s just glad to be able to get minutes in any position he can.
He said: "In this stage of my career it's massively important that I can play in different positions so I am selectable, and not just in one preferred position.
“Luckily, I’ve been blessed with a gift that I can play in them positions and it gets me on the pitch.
"Growing up I was always a striker and it’s where I played for most of my career coming up through the academy and things like that.
"But I don’t mind which position I play in. If it gets me on the pitch, I’m happy to do a job anywhere."
