SLICK AS A PARROTT

Troy double keeps Ireland's World Cup hopes alive...but it's a night to forget for red-card Ron

- MARK MCCADDEN

HEIMIR HALLGRÍMSSON has hailed goal hero Troy Parrott and revealed what Cristiano Ronaldo said to him after his red card.

Parrott's double last night secured a famous 2-0 win over Portugal and kept Ireland's World Cup alive, ahead of Sunday's final Group F game away to Hungary.

The Boys in Green need a win in Budapest to book their place in the playoffs next month. But confidence will be high after one of the great Irish performances.

Parrott scored twice in the first half and Hallgrímsson (left) said: "It was good, we knew there would be spaces and he is clever using them, Chiedozie Ogbene as well supported by Finn Azaz.