Parrott proved patience is a virtue but after his first taste of glory he is now Hungary for much more

LIFE is good in Troy Parrott's world at the moment.

- BY DEREK FOLEY

His season so far with AZ Alkmaar is a goal-fest, six goals from seven Eredivisie games.

And thanks to his two-goal salvo on Thursday night Ireland are still World Cup qualification contenders, third placed in Group F and chasing second.

The 23-year-old Dubliner’s sixth and seventh goals for the national side have given Ireland a gambler’s chance of qualification in Budapest on Sunday - there is a roll of the dice left

This precious brace, against Portugal at the Aviva, is unlikely to be forgotten for a long, long time.

Can Ireland grab momentum from that shock result?

“I think we have to’ says the striker.

“This is the biggest issue about the next game. Getting a result against Portugal was always going to give us a chance on Sunday. So all the focus has to switch to going out there and trying to win.”

The result is, hopefully, only the beginning for a striker looking to make an even bigger mark.

“It means everything, I felt emotions scoring those goals that I've never felt before.