WE JUST NEVER SHEA NEVER

Dara hails growth of Ireland side to deliver his proudest day

- By MARK McCADDEN

DARA O'Shea wants to bottle the feeling he experienced as Troy Parrott's brilliant hat-trick sent Ireland to the World Cup playoffs.

The Ireland defender hailed his teammate for his contribution to an incredible week for Irish football. Parrott's five goals delivered wins against Portugal and Hungary, and sealed second place in Group F for the Boys in Green.

Asked if he had ever experienced anything like it before, O'Shea replied: “No, never. That's special. I wish I could bottle this up, because right now it just feels mental.

“The amount of pride going through my body now for us as a team but us as a country, we are all Irish fans first and foremost. This is special. I haven't experienced anything like this before.