Hall to play for as Irish still in it

HEIMIR Hallgrimsson believes Ireland can still take World Cup qualification to the wire.

- By PAUL O'HEHIR

HEIMIR Hallgrimsson believes Ireland can still take World Cup qualification to the wire.

Evan Ferguson headed a winner as the Boys in Green saw off Armenia 1-0 in a must-win game at Aviva Stadium.

But Hungary scored an injury-time equaliser away to Portugal to move a point clear of Ireland in the table.

Should Hungary win in Armenia next month, Ireland will be out of the running going to Budapest on the final day if they lose at home to Portugal in their penultimate game.

But Hallgrimsson insists Ireland can pinch a point off Portugal, and isn’t ruling out a favour from Armenia in Yerevan either, when they host Hungary next month.

“It doesn’t really change anything,” said the Ireland boss of Hungary's late goal. “It’s a new dawn in the next window and we just needed three points here to stay alive.

“We always knew we would need to win against Hungary in the last game, but now it looks like we'll need a point against Portugal or Armenia do us a favour in Yerevan.

“But Armenia have big heart and they don’t roll over for anyone.

“There's aggression and a spirit in them that is noticeable if you watched them play in Hungary.