Emotional Shane Duffy reckons his late father was watching from above as he headed in a dramatic Ireland equaliser.
The new Celtic loanee rescued a Nations League point for Stephen Kenny's side against Bulgaria on Thursday night.
It was the 28-year-old's first international appearance without dad Brian in attendance after he passed away in May.
Duffy admits it's been a difficult year off and on the pitch, having fallen out of favour at Premier League side Brighton before this week sealing a loan move to his boyhood heroes.
And the centre-back insists he's now ready to kick-start his career again.
Duffy said: “It’s been a tough year for me personally and on the pitch, so it was nice to get back out there and playing football again.
“It was tough of course, it’s the first game where he’s not been here. So emotional, of course.
“But I’m a professional, I want to play football and focus on the game. I know he’s there for me, I’d say last minute there he was probably looking down on me.
“But yeah I’m a professional, I want to get on with my career, I want to move on and be strong and keep going and that’s what I aim to do.
“Overall I’m disappointed with the result and that we didn’t win the game, but it was important that we didn’t lose.
“Obviously it was a big moment that we didn’t lose the game.
"A bittersweet moment.
“It was important for the lads and the manager and overall in terms of the game we’re disappointed with the result – obviously we want to win these games."
