Troy Parrott: 'I’m still shaking, it’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life'

Rónán McNamara reports from the Aviva Stadium

Troy Parrott described his winning goal as one of the best feelings he had ever had in his life, after his 97th minute winner gave Ireland a deserved and hard fought 1-0 win over a stubborn Lithuania at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday.

The MK Dons forward was introduced as a second-half substitute just after the hour mark, replacing Will Keane of Wigan Athletic.

Had he not scored the winner it would have still been an impressive cameo from the Tottenham Hotspur loanee as he tried his luck from long range before forcing Lithuanian stopper Dziugas Bartkus into a stunning save deep into stoppage time.

Parrott who scored twice in a friendly win over Andorra last year came up trumps again with a Steven Gerrard-esque strike from 25 yards to send the 32,686 strong crowd into delirium.

“Incredible. I’m still shaking it’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life,” said Parrott.

“When Conor was going to cross the ball, I was too far away from getting into the box, so I tried to read where the second ball was going to land. It felt it would never come down I had to take two touches before I could get the shot off.

“I am over the moon.

I had a feeling it was going towards the goal, to see it hit the back of the net was crazy. By far the best moment, to score the winner that late at the Aviva in front of the home fans maybe a mile or so from my house is incredible.

“When I get the chance I want to take it. It’s a good trait to have as a sub or as a starter all you want to do is have an impact on the game and luckily I could do that.”



Parrott came through the ranks at Spurs and in the underage setups for the Republic of Ireland as a number nine but has found himself playing on the right of a front three at MK Dons this season and his form in 2022 has been pivotal in their unlikely promotion bid from League One.

The 20-year-old took up a position left of the front three when he came on for the Boys in Green and was also found in the wide right and central positions as he displayed his newfound versatility. Despite seeing himself as an out and out striker, he has no issue playing in any of the forward positions.

“It’s been a really good week. Training is so important and all week I feel like I have trained the best I can, and you reap the rewards from that.

“In this stage of my career it’s important I can play in different positions, so I am selectable in not just one preferred position. Luckily, I have been blessed with a gift that I can, and it gets me on the pitch.

“Growing up I was always a striker coming up through academies, but I don’t mind which positions I play if it gets me on the pitch.”

 



    About Rónán MacNamara

    View Full Profile