THE man by the exit was giggling and it looked like it was a case of shock. "I was late arriving," he chuckled to the friends he had just met as they streamed past him, "and I missed the first six."

He wasn't the only one struggling to come to terms with events. Outside, a Shelbourne fan, used to seeing one of the league's most talented defences deal effortlessly in frustration, was babbling senselessly about multiple off sides, while Shamrock Rovers fans, exhausted by a 90 minute cycle of euphoria and the fear of impending disaster, marvelled at a memorable victory.

Their team's performance had not, perhaps, been quite what Pat Byrne had in mind when he sent them out, but Ossie Ardiles certainly would have been proud.

That the landlords were having an off night, started to become apparent after just 11 minutes. A throw in from the right, that appeared to pose little danger, was helped on by Sean Francis: towards Tony Cousins who got an outstretched foot between defender and goalkeeper to open the scoring.

When Mick Neville's mistake led to Cousins's second, seven minutes later, a shock seemed distinctly more likely, but Rovers fans have learnt the cost of counting chickens the hard way and, when Pat Morley pulled one back midway through the half with a close range header, there were clearly plenty of those cheering for Shamrock Rovers who reckoned it would be all downhill from there.

Cousins, though, was having an outstanding night for the lodgers and he completed a remarkable first half for his team by rounding off his hat trick after being again fed by Francis, before setting up John Toal for a fourth from close range just before the interval.

An escape more remarkable than their cup win over Dundalk, was required by now from Damien Richardson's side if they were to keep the pressure on Derry at the top of the table and, despite Tony Sheridan looking more crazed than constructive through much of the opening period and several of those around him showing repeated symptoms of panic, a start was made on producing it within couple of minutes of the restart.

Sheridan it was, who set Morley up for his second and the former Cork City man grabbed his third to earn a claim of his own on the match ball.

With Shelbourne also denied what looked to be a penalty, Rovers fans were, by this point, generally wearing expressions of resignation, shock and/or plain disbelief. But the tide was about to turn in their favour once again as their side picked up two goals in two minutes. Francis made the first when he cut the ball inside to Pat Fenlon, who in turn hit the post with his shot before firing the rebound home and then, in the 77th minute, Francis finally got on the score sheet himself, when he popped up at the far post to tap home Marc Kenny's parried free kick.

In a frantic (well, more frantic then) last 10 minutes, Dessie Baker cut the deficit to two with a wonderful piece of individual skill but Morley and then Pat Scully squandered the work he did to create clear cut chances for another couple that would have meant a 12 goal stalemate.

Shelbourne fans and neutrals were obviously disappointed, although, oddly, none looked for their money back.