'Time stood still' - John O'Shea sees hard work reap rewards for Ireland

Amidst what has been a whirlwind few months for John O’Shea since taking over the national team, time stood still for the interim manager as he watched Troy Parrott take off towards the Hungary goal in injury time of the international friendly on Tuesday night.

With the game finely poised at 1-1 and the home side defending a corner, the young Dubliner, who came on as a second-half substitute, burst out of his own box and seconds later was bearing down on goal.

Racing alongside him was fellow forward Sammie Szmodics, offering an alternative route, but Parrott took on the responsibility to finish the game off and handed O’Shea his first win as Ireland manager at the third time of asking.

"We had to defend a set piece and next thing we're breaking away and I'm convinced he's squaring it, thinking it's a tap in, happy days, we've got a win, incredible," said O’Shea, recalling those final moments of the game.

"And then he's done what he's done, time stood still for a few seconds, but I think the team and the group and the staff, for the work they've put in, not just for tonight, but for the last three games, got our rewards."

Those rewards appear to have come from the strong emphasis that O’Shea is putting on analysis and training ground work, which he credits for the first goal of the game, as Adam Idah attacked the right space in anticipation of Will Smallbone’s delivery.

"We showed him a couple of clips from training yesterday…so we just reminded him before the game that, if we are in crossing positions, why we should get the detail right on it," explained O’Shea.

"Thankfully, Will Smallbone’s technique and ability, very little back lift, boom, and Adam has done what he’s done for the last six months. He was in the right position