TROY PARROTT’S POST-MATCH message to Irish fans who supported the national team before last night’s defeat was “thank you, stick with us”. 

Parrott was speaking to RTÉ’s Tony O’Donoghue after Ireland’s heartbreaking defeat on penalty kicks to Czechia, which means that Ireland will not be going to the World Cup. 

Parrott himself scored a penalty to give Ireland an early lead in the game and also scored the first spot-kick in the shootout. 

'I'm really gutted we couldn't do it for everyone'

Troy Parrott speaks about the pride he has in his team mates and the fans after defeat to Czechia

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Ireland’s place in the play-off was of course only secured by Parrott’s hat-trick against Hungary and two goals against Portugal across five days last November. A week which basically made him a national sporting hero. 

On that occasion in Budapest Parrott gave a famously emotional interview to O’Donoghue after the game and the Dubliner spoke again, this time after defeat last night.

Parrott was asked about the support of the fans who travelled in their thousands to the Czech capital and who were watching in bars and in their homes back in Ireland. 

“Yeah, look, we felt it, we felt it all week. We knew how much it meant to everyone,” Parrott said. 

“I’m just really, really gutted that we couldn’t, we couldn’t do it for everyone that has supported us. All of the Irish that are here. All of the Irish that are back home that have been supporting us. Thank you, stick with us. It’s times like this where I’m so, so happy, where I come from.”

Asked about the nature of the defeat and that two of his teammates missed penalties in the shootout, he said:

“Yeah look, I think it really takes a lot of nerve to step up there and take a peno. So for sure, there’ll be no blame from 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.

“Look, I’m proud of the team that I’m a part of, and I’m proud of every Irish person that supported us today as well.”

Had Ireland won last night’s match the team would be looking at a winner-takes-all play-off match against Denmark in Dublin on Tuesday. Instead, the team will still return to Dublin but will take on North Macedonia in a friendly international.