What a remarkable turnaround for the Republic of Ireland

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The Celtic Star

·18 November 2025

What a remarkable turnaround for the Republic of Ireland

What a remarkable turnaround for the Republic of Ireland: after galvanising wins over Portugal and Hungary, they have secured a place in the 2026 World Cup play-offs…

Liam Scales of Republic of Ireland celebrates his sides third goal scored by Troy Parrott of Republic of Ireland (not pictured) during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Hungary and Republic of Ireland at on November 16, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by David Balogh/Getty Images)

These last few days will go down as one of the great chapters in recent Irish football history — and Celtic’s own Liam Scales played a starring role while Celtic’s Irish striker Johnny Kenny also picked up his first senior cap in what was the biggest moment in Irish football history in decades.

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What an incredible few days it has been for Irish football.

First, Ireland stunned Portugal with a confident 2–0 victory at the Aviva Stadium where only the greatest of Irish optimists would have placed their money and collected from Irish bookmakers like BoyleSports at incredibly generous odds. Troy Parrott grabbed both goals, while Celtic’s Liam Scales was quietly brilliant. Deployed in an unusual left wing-back role, he drifted beyond the back post to meet a corner from Josh Cullen, flicking a header back into the box for Parrott to finish. Scales later admitted that he’d been practising exactly that move all week in training, fine-tuning his positioning so that he could deliver just such a cross — and that gamble paid off beautifully!

Liam described last Thursday night in Dublin as “amazing … the fans deserved it as much as we did.”

But the drama was only just beginning. In Budapest, Ireland needed a win against Hungary to clinch second place in their group. The match was an emotional rollercoaster: Hungary took the lead twice, only for Parrott to equalise once via a penalty, and then — deep into stoppage time — he completed an unbelievable hat-trick with a deft finish to win it 3–2.

The decisive moment came from Scales again. From a long punt forward by goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher, Scales met the ball with a perfectly judged header at the back post. His knock-down fell kindly to Parrott, who prodded it home in the 96th minute, sending Irish fans into raptures inside the stadium, back home in Ireland and indeed all over the world where the Irish diaspora rejoiced, including of course in Scotland.

It was a moment of pure instinct — and showed just how much work Liam Scales and the team had put in behind the scenes.

Liam Scales of Republic of Ireland is challenged by Loic Nego and Roland Sallai of Hungary during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Hungary and Republic of Ireland at on November 16, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by David Balogh/Getty Images)

The Celtic defender’s performance has sparked a wave of praise from fans on both sides of Ireland and Scotland. On social media, Celtic and Irish supporters alike hailed his contribution, calling him a “colossus” and demanding a statue. Others pointed out his defensive solidity, work-rate, and willingness to put his head on the line in big moments.

Scales himself was clearly emotional after the Hungary win. He reflected on how the training ground routines came together when it mattered most: “We’d been working on me getting free at the back post. I said I’d do it on the day, and luckily, I did.”

Players of Republic of Ireland celebrate victory following the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Hungary and Republic of Ireland at on November 16, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by David Balogh/Getty Images)

He acknowledged how tiring his role at left-back can be, admitting that he was “cramping up at the end” but emphasised that it was worth it for the cause.

Meanwhile, Johnny Kenny, another Celtic-linked player, made his senior Ireland debut in the game against Hungary. While he didn’t score, his introduction was symbolic of a team blending experience, youthful energy, and real belief under Heimir Hallgrímsson.

It’s impossible to overstate what this qualification means for Ireland. After a rocky start to their campaign, those two back-to-back wins — the shock triumph over Portugal and the dramatic comeback in Budapest — underline a resilience and character that many had often doubted. Parrott’s heroics rightly dominate headlines, but without the composure and key contributions from players like Scales, none of it might have happened.

Troy Parrott of Republic of Ireland celebrates victory following the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Hungary and Republic of Ireland at on November 16, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by David Balogh/Getty Images)

The Celtic connection adds an extra layer to the story. Scales, once perhaps underestimated, has now become a national hero. He’s shown he’s not just a defender — he’s a performer in big games, someone who can contribute in attack when it matters most. Celtic fans, in particular, will be thrilled to see one of their own stepping up on the international stage.

As Ireland now look toward March’s play-off matches, optimism is high. They’ve earned their chance — not by luck, but by grit, design, and a late-game magic that felt almost scripted. If they can carry this momentum forward, a return to the World Cup could be very much in reach.

They’re going to be incredibly hard to stop now. Come on you Bhoys in Green!