Brian Byrne nipped Shamrock Rovers' renaissance in the bud to end their unbeaten start and give Dundalk their first win of the National League season with a goal three minutes from time at Tolka Park last night.

In a thrilling game of fitful end to end action, it could have ended in a double figure scoreline such were the chances at either end.

As it was, Rovers were left to rue the premium of the missed chances when Paul Carlyle played Byrne in behind their square defence on 87 minutes.

Byrne keeping his head to hook the ball over the advancing Robbie Forde and watch gleefully as it bounced into the net.

In a lively opening, Rovers survived an early scare when Byrne blazed a Peter Withnell cross high over the crossbar after six minutes, to take a 14th minute lead with a stunning strike.

Jason Colwell was fouled by David Hoey out near the right touchline. Tony Cousins stole a yard on his marker, Kevin Brady, to reach Marc Kenny's quickly taken free-kick and sidefoot past Steve Williams from about eight yards.

Cousins, bouyed by that fourth league goal of the season, might have had his fifth six minutes later but was unlucky to see his shot flash inches wide after some clever approach play by Derek Tracey.

But Rovers undid all their good early work by conceding a soft equaliser on 26 minutes. Colwell committed a needless foul on Byrne some 20 yards from his own goal and then looked to have got the final touch when Paul Carlyle's free-kick took a deflection off the Rovers wall and spun into the far corner out of Robbie Forde's reach.

Dundalk then enjoyed their best spell of the match - Ray Campbell shooting narrowly wide across goal before Withnell cracked a low drive off the foot of a post five minutes before half-time.

The chances continued to come thick and fast throughout the second-half as the game opened up even more.

Cousins might have had a hat-trick of headers, all from Kenny crosses, while Steve Williams made two good stops from Brian Morrisroe and Derek Tracey.

But it was scarcely one-way traffic and Withnell, Byrne and Campbell came close before Byrne won it with his cleverly taken goal three minutes from the end.

Shamrock Rovers: Forde; Britton, Whelan, Purdy, Brazil; Tracey, Colwell, Kenny, Morrisroe; O'Neill, Cousins. Subs: Kavanagh for Morrisroe (85 mins).

Dundalk: Williams; Reddish, Doohan, Brady, Crawley; Campbell, Carlyle, Melvin, Hoey; Byrne, Withnell. Subs: McNulty for Withnell (66 mins).

Referee: B Barry (Waterford)