Sixteen years might well have gone up in six minutes. Two late goals handed Sporting Fingal a shock win over Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium to damage the Hoops' chances of winning a first title in that long time and potentially set up one of the worst chokes in Irish football history. Rovers started the game knowing they had to win to reclaim top spot after Bohemians briefly leapfrogged them following their win over St Patrick's Athletic. A goal from Thomas Stewart on 13 minutes appeared to be enough for them to reclaim top spot before Gary O'Neill and Glen Crowe netted in the final minutes to leave Rovers stunned.

It was Sporting who had threatened first when Crowe failed to convert Conan Byrne's cross from the right despite being only yards from goal. That stirred Rovers into turning up the intensity and it didn't take long for them to open the scoring. Billy Dennehy's through ball cut the visitor's defence open and Gary Twigg squared to Stewart for an easy finish.

Twigg should have doubled their lead on 20 minutes, but the league's top scorer fired over. With the momentum clearly in Rovers' favour, James Chambers volleyed over before Sporting came close with headed chances from Shaun Williams and Colin Hawkin.

It was more of the same in the second half with Twigg wasting a good chance. Worse was the game's key moment on 64 minutes. Chris Turner was brought down by Brendan Clarke and his conversion could well have brought the house down – not to mention the league title. But he smashed the bar.

The game then took another twist on 87 minutes when Stephen Rice's header set O'Neill away. Rovers were in a daze after that goal and Sporting hit them again when Crowe's angled effort took a deflection off Aidan Price. The pain goes on... and might get worse.

Shamrock Rovers Mannus; Flynn, Sives, Price, Stevens; Chambers, Rice, Turner, Dennehy; Stewart, Twigg.

Sporting Fingal Clarke; O'Brien, Hawkins (Kirby 75), Browne, Fitzgerald (Cahill 82); Finn, McFaul, Williams; Byrne, O'Neill, Crowe.

Referee D Hanney (Dublin)