Gary Twigg may only be at Shamrock Rovers for three months but the Scottish striker has etched himself into Hoops folklore as he scored two late strikes to down the champions at Tallaght.

 

The home faithful were coming to terms with their fifth successive defeat to their bitterest rivals when Twigg back flicked Stephen Rice's shot home after the Bohemians defence failed to deal with Stephen Bradley's 78th minute corner.

 

And Twigg sent the fans into delerium a minute later as he got on the end of Rice's deep free kick and looped a header over Brian Murphy

 

It hadn't looked promising for them as Jason Byrne's fifteenth minute penalty put Pat Fenlon's men ahead and they'd looked comfortable throughout.

 

Anto Murphy had to be sharp to beat Shane Robinson to a loose pass in the Rovers' area and as the winger stretched he felled his opposite number.

 

Alan Kelly had no hesitation in pointing to the spot giving Byrne a chace he duly took, hammering home his 150th league goal with Barry Murphy guessing right but unable to get a hand to it.

 

It was a stop start affair with the wind coming off the Wicklow mountains having an effect on the quality of play.

 

Both sides were wasteful and the normally reliable Bohs defence looked hesitant after shipping three at the Brandywell last time out.

 

But the Hoops couldn't capitalise and it was at the other end that the Gypsies threatened with Byrne leaping highest to head just over.

 

Glen Crowe stole in behind the home cover to latch onto Paul Keegan's pass but he sent a left footed shot just wide and managed to tweak a hamstring in the process and he would play no further part, Neale Fenn coming into the fray.

 

With the words of Michael O'Neill ringing in their ears and the wind at their backs it was a different home side that emerged from the tunnel after the break.

 

Eight minutes in, Gary Twigg deflected Darragh Maguire's goalbound header over the bar to the disbelief the home side.

 

And Twigg again spurned a glorious opportunity when Ollie Cahill made his way to the by line and crossed to the back post only for the Scottish striker to head into the ground and wide.

 

But he made up for it late on to give the Hoops a night they'll never forget.

 

Shamrock Rovers: Murphy; Flynn, Maguire, Price, Cahill; Robinson (O'Connor 42), Rice, Cameron (Baker 62), Bradley; Amond (Purcell 73), Twigg.

 

Bohemians: B Murphy; Shelley, McGuinness, Heary, Powell; A Murphy (Rossiter 78), Keegan, Cronin, Brennan; Byrne, Crowe (Fenn 45).

 

Referee: A Kelly (Cork)