Former Bohemians defender Liam Burns popped up with a late equaliser for Dundalk to give his former club a seven point lead over Shamrock Rovers in the title race.

On the night they opened their impressive new East Stand and increased the capacity at Tallaght Stadium to 6,000, it looked like Shamrock Rovers would be celebrating with a 2-0 lead at half time, but it was Sean Connor who embarked on a Jose Mourinho like run to celebrate the deserved late equaliser.

A crowd of around 5,000 attended the damp southwest Dublin venue and while it took a while to warm up, they were treated to another victory by Michael O'Neill's second place side.

The visitors were coming off the back of two gruelling FAI Ford Cup ties with Bohemians and while they started the stronger and could have gone in front early on, their heads dropped as soon as Rovers scored.

Alan Mannus made his debut after his move from Linfield, replacing Barry Murphy in the home goal while Stephen Rice and Gary Twigg returned to score after being rested against UCD in the FAI Ford Cup last weekend.

Sean Connor was without Michael Daly, Michael Collins and goalkeeper Peter Cherrie as the Louthmen felt the toll of 210 minutes of keeping the champions scoreless but they should have taken the lead after 19 minutes.

Darragh Maguire got Michael McGowan's pass badly wrong and the ball ran through for Alex Williams, but he made life easy for Mannus, firing a weak shot straight at the 'keeper.

And they'd pay for that miss five minutes later as Kevin McKinley needlessly knocked Dessie Baker's poor pass into Rice's path and the midfielder got one over his old boss Connor by easily opening the scoring.

Twigg doubled the lead on 31 minutes when Baker's sweet ball over the top played the Scot in and he extended his lead on top of the goalscoring charts by lobbing Chris Bennion.

Darren Mansaram brought the best out in Mannus before the break with a well struck, left footed shot that the big stopper did well to keep out, diving low to palm the ball around the post.

And after the break it was the Lilywhites who dominated the affair as despite the scoreline they kept their heads up and attacked from the off, McGowan going close with a vicious free kick that just cleared the post.

Williams sent a snap shot just wide with Mannus beaten as the hosts couldn't get going and the lead was down to one after 67 minutes as the impressive McGowan's cross evaded Maguire and Williams tapped home.

Paul McAreavey then found Burns in the area and the big Belfast man nodded home to stun the home faithful.

Shamrock Rovers: Mannus; Sullivan, Maguire, Sives, Cahill; Kavanagh (Purcell 54), Rice, Bradley (Chisolm 70), O'Connor; Baker (Cowan 86), Twigg.

Dundalk: Bennion; Kelly, Burns, Coburn, McKinley; McGowan, Heary, McAreavey, Mulvenna (McGinlay 59); Williams, Mansaram.

Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork).