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Shamrock Rovers stretched their lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division to 10 points after a wild first half that yielded all five goals and saw a geed-up home fan confront Dundalk players on the pitch. By full-time, referee Rob Harvey had dished out 11 yellow cards - including to both managers - having also shown Rovers coach Sean Kavanagh a red in the tunnel at half-time. It was an all-or-nothing sort of night in Tallaght, and you couldn't take your eyes off it. Dundalk were the only team Rovers hadn’t beaten this season but the Hoops’ first-half display was littered with so many mistakes, it’s a wonder how they led on three occasions through Dylan Watts, Michael Noonan and Jonathan Afolabi. Stephen Bradley made seven changes from the side that beat Egnatia in Europe on Tuesday, with Graham Burke and Adam Brennan among those left out of the squad entirely while Pico Lopes served the first of a three-game ban. With next week’s trip to Albania to come, it was a makeshift starting side but the Hoops scored first when Dundalk goalkeeper Enda Minogue clattered into Noonan after 96 seconds. Watts converted his third penalty of the season. But Rovers were their own worst enemy, despite enjoying a 3-2 half-time lead. They were sloppy in possession and the tackling was clumsy, all of which fuelled Dundalk’s belief that this was anyone’s game. They were level by the 15th minute. Max Kovalevskis botched a backpass from distance, sending the ball out for a corner. Daryl Horgan took it, goalkeeper Ed McGinty missed it and Rob Cornwall slammed home. Dundalk piled on the pressure. Cory O’Sulivan undercooked a backpass allowing Ronan Teehan race in on McGinty who redeemed himself with a decent save, before Cian Dillon hooked the loose ball over the bar. Just when it looked like Rovers could unravel, they reclaimed the lead. Watts stood his ground under a challenge from Cornwall and floated a 20th-minute cross to the back post for Noonan to head home. But that lead only lasted for seven minutes as the Lilywhites got penalty joy of their own. Watts squandered possession on the edge of his box and Dillon, who outmuscled the Rovers midfielder to claim the ball, was then bundled over by Lee Grace. Horgan drilled the spot-kick high into McGinty’s net and celebrated with a knee slide in front of the Rovers fans in the South Stand. One supporter took exception to that and jumped the advertising boards. He raced towards Horgan and his team-mates and was involved in a scuffle. Cornwall wrestled him away before stewards and Gardaí intervened. The drama didn’t stop there as Rovers edged back in front seven minutes before half-time. Bobby Burns miscued a clearance and steered a John O’Sullivan ball across his own box. Afolabi pounced and punished Dundalk on his first league start since signing a month ago. Amidst all of this, both managers and Rovers assistant Glen Cronin were shown yellow cards for various gripes with Harvey’s decision making, but not before Rovers coach Kavanagh was shown a red in the tunnel at the break. The second half had a lot to live up to. It definitely wasn’t as madcap, but how could it be? Rovers - with three changes at half-time - ironed out their mistakes but Dundalk were always a threat and both goalkeepers made brilliant, flying saves. McGinty denied former Hoop Trevor Clarke before Minogue thwarted Maleace Asamoah. Then, six minutes from time, Minogue denied the Rovers substitute again before Leo Ghaxa had McGinty at full stretch in injury-time that was prolonged after a serious looking leg injury for Rovers’ Cian Barett. The shrill of the final whistle brought closure to a crazy night. Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Tunmise Sobowale, Lee Grace, Cory O’Sullivan (Adam Matthews 45); Max Kovalevskis (Maleace Asamoah 45), Matt Healy (Cian Barrett 59), John O’Sullivan, Luke O’Regan; Dylan Watts (Jack Byrne 45); Michael Noonan, Jonathan Afolabi (Aaron Greene 59) Dundalk: Enda Minogue; Mayowa Animasahun (Harry Groome 49), Rob Cornwall, Tom Grivosti; Trevor Clarke (Aaron Keogh 85), Aodh Dervan, Keith Buckley, Bobby Burns; Ronan Teehan (Declan McDaid 49), Daryl Horan; Cian Dillon (Leo Gaxha 62) Subs not used: Peter Cherrie, Samuel Safaei, Luke Milligan, Sean Spaight, Shay Casey Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin)