I've always had belief in this team, they can grow together

HALLGRIMSSON'S FAITH IN HIS BOYS IN GREEN PAYS OFF IN STUNNING FASHION

- By MARK McCADDEN

IT'S 10 short weeks since Heimir Hallgrímsson uttered these words.

"It's difficult to see the light, at least now, at this moment," said the Ireland boss. "It's very hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel right now.... It's just honestly tough to see the light.

Fast forward to last Sunday and Hallgrímsson was basking in the blinding glow of Ireland's heroic comeback.

Someone should have handed him a pair of shades, so bright was the light shining on the Boys in Green boss and his players in the wake of Troy Parrott's sensational and historic hat-trick.

Videos of celebrations across the country were starting to trickle through on social media of fans falling over barstools, hugging strangers, ripping off their jerseys and raising babies over their heads as if they were trophies.

Even Hallgrímsson, an avowed social media luddite, acknowledged that he would struggle to avoid all the glorious content.

The scenes that greeted Parrott's 96th-minute winner were reminiscent of the good old days, Euro '88 and Italia '90 right through to Euro 2016.

Who would have believed, just over two months ago, when Hallgrímsson slumped against a wall in the aftermath of that Armenia defeat and had the look of a man whose life savings had just been plundered, that this would be possible?

He had invested everything into this World Cup campaign, yet he had the look of a man who had been duped by a Ponzi scheme. Well, boy did he cash in on Sunday.

"I've told you," he said, reflecting on that euphoric win in Hungary, "I have had belief in this team.

"I had a meeting with the guys after the game and I had already prepared that (victory) speech. I've prepared for this meeting (with the media) as well because I knew that we were going to do it.