Parrott's mum says 'no matter what I'm proud of you'
"All I really wanted to do today was just give him a hug and say 'no matter what son we're all proud of you’," Troy Parrott's mother has said ahead of Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Czechia.
The Ireland forward scored two goals in a 2-0 victory over Portugal and then scored a hat-trick to help Ireland overcome Hungary in a 2-3 victory in Budapest last year.
Speaking in Prague ahead tonight's match, Jennifer Parrott said her son "needed this chance".
"He got the chance and he proved to everyone how good he is and how good he can be," she said.
"I always knew that he’d do very well," she said, adding "I'm very proud".
Ms Parrott said her son "doesn’t feel the pressure".
"But I know there’s a lot of pressure on him," she added.
To Troy, she said: "No matter what I'm proud of you, to where you got today."
Watch: Troy Parrott's grandmother sends emotional message as kick-off approaches
Troy's grandmother, Josie, said she was "over the moon".
"I love you Troy," she said, adding that "we're still proud of you".
"Just do what you do."
Speaking to RTÉ Radio 1's Liveline programme, his sister, Emmie, said she felt "more nervous for him" as "there is a lot of pressure on him".
"I have a knot in my stomach," she said.
"Even the team, not only Troy, I just hope they all do really well," she added.
She said she and her brother were "really close growing up".
"We still are, so to me it's like, if anything goes wrong, it's on all of us as well, we all [family] feel it for him," Emmie added.
Also speaking on the programme, Troy's girlfriend Lauren said he "is more ready than he will ever be".
"He is doing so well, scoring, and that has built him up even more for tonight," she added.
Read more:
Follow live developments as kick-off approaches
Czechia v Republic of Ireland: All you need to know
Preview: Ireland's belief brewing but proof will be in Prague pudding
Postcard from Prague: Irish fans aspire among the spires
