Everton star Seamus Coleman has been an incredible signing for the Toffees ever since that famous £60,000 move in 2009 and he’s endeared himself further to the Goodison Park faithful after Ireland’s clash vs Hungary.
Seamus Coleman has rarely featured for Everton in the Premier League this season, only coming on late on in games to see out narrow wins over Wolves and Crystal Palace – meaning he’s made just two minutes of substitute appearances.
Although he captained David Moyes’ men in the Carabao Cup, that hasn’t transpired into regular game time. However, he’s come back to the fore for Ireland recently, playing a huge part in their stunning World Cup qualification run.
And after beating Hungary in incredible circumstances on Sunday, Coleman has got the last laugh on Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai.
Republic of Ireland right-back Seamus Coleman in action against Hungary.
Photo by Jeroen van den Berg /Soccrates/Getty Images
Everton defender Seamus Coleman could realise his World Cup dream after dramatic Ireland win
The message was clear to Ireland at the start of the week. They simply had to beat Portugal and Hungary to qualify for the World Cup play-off stage, and it looked to be a tough act.
However, Ireland’s surprise 2-0 win over Portugal on Thursday evening gave the nation hope, thanks to a Troy Parrott double and a Cristiano Ronaldo sending off.
It meant a showdown in Hungary – if Ireland won against the odds, they’d qualify for the play-off stage.
MORE EVERTON STORIES
And, with Troy Parrott bagging a last-minute winner to secure a hat-trick in a 3-2 win in Budapest, he wrote his name into Irish footballing folklore.
It’s no surprise that Coleman’s return to the national team has resulted in such success. And he got the last laugh over Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai after earlier taunts from the midfielder.
Seamus Coleman has left Liverpool man Szoboszlai with egg on his face
Szoboszlai was seen mimicking crying to Ireland’s players as Hungary led 2-1 against the Emerald Isle, with Hungary having a two-goal cushion when it came to securing a World Cup play-off place.
But Parrott managed to score twice in the final 15 minutes – and cameras later showed the Reds playmaker being heartbroken and desolate on the field of play.
Szoboszlai is undoubtedly a great player, and is Hungary’s best that they have produced in quite a while.
However, his gloating got the better of him and instead, it will be Coleman and Jake O’Brien who have the chance to qualify for the World Cup over their Merseyside rival.
Ireland haven’t featured at a World Cup finals since 2002, when Coleman was just 14 years old, and O’Brien was a mere one year of age.