Molumby: “This brings us all together” 

Cappoquin man Jayson Molumby was still vibrating with adrenaline as he tried to capture the scale of Ireland’s famous victory in Budapest on Sunday - a win that booked their place in the FIFA World Cup Playoffs and delivered one of the great away nights in recent memory.

Troy Parrott’s 96th-minute winner secured a famous 3-2 success for the Republic of Ireland at Hungary’s expense, allowing Molumby and his teammates World Cup dreams to suddenly feel in reach.

“Unbelievable, yeah. I’m over the moon, can’t believe it. It’s just crazy. Just an unbelievable night, so we’re delighted”, he said afterward.

Having missed Thursday’s 2-0 win over Portugal at the Aviva Stadium through suspension, Molumby admitted the tie carried extra emotion from a personal perspective. There was no bitterness about sitting out; only pride.

“I was just cheering on the lads, hoping we could get a result to keep it alive tonight," he said.

"Thankfully, the boys were brilliant on Thursday and I was just buzzing to come in tonight and get a win. I think the lads put in such a tough shift the other night. A tough game against Portugal at home. 

"The quick turnaround may have played its part in the first half. We’re disappointed with the goals conceded. 

"They got an unbelievable second strike, but I can probably get tighter to the man on the edge of the box. There are always going to be negatives, but I hope there aren’t too many from tonight!” 

What mattered, Molumby stressed, was the belief that has seeped into the squad - belief that wasn’t always there.

“We definitely believed. It was positive at half-time. We were disappointed with our performance and we knew we had to throw everything at it in the second half. The coaching staff, the substitutions - they were brave. We went for it.” 

The turning point came through Finn Azaz, whose exquisite lofted pass released Troy Parrott for Ireland’s equaliser.

“I said to him after, I think he changed the game. When he dropped back, we went for it. 

"I’m not as creative as Finn. Thankfully he puts an unbelievable pass, great time of the run from Troy, great weight on the pass. It switched momentum for us.” 

He didn’t forget Parrott’s part either. “Troy is very good at that. He’s excellent with his movement and timing. He deserves it," Molumby noted.

Even as Hungary pressed late, Ireland stayed composed. “2-2, I think there were always going to be moments. We watched the Armenia game and knew Hungary piled on pressure late on. 

"When you’re protecting a result like they were, naturally you sit off. It invited us on and luckily we got the winner.” 

And when that winner went in, the celebrations told their own story.

“It brings us all close together. We’ve been pretty close the last few camps. We’re always interacting, messing about. It’s everyone involved. There’s no little groups. It’s a good laugh in camp.” 

Molumby credits much of Ireland’s transformation to manager Heimir Hallgrímsson, whose clarity and conviction have altered the team’s mentality.

“He’s made us believe. We’re well-drilled in what he wants. In the Portugal game, we knew they’d have a lot of possession, but as soon as we turned it over there was so much space in behind and we exploited that. 

"Credit to him and the staff. The substitutions tonight paid off massively.” 

Ireland will find out their playoff opponents on Thursday for a massive few days in March. Not since 2002 have the Boys in Green been at a World Cup, but that dream is in as rude health as it’s ever been since thanks to Troy Parrott’s terrific interventions.