45 mins
It was the home side who started brightest, Celtic struggling to break down their impressive passing display.
But it was the visitors who had the first real chance of the match in the 12th minute.
James Forrest delivered the ball to Cha, who picked out the Irishman at the back post, Stokes unable to make any meaningful contact with the ball from just a yard out and sending the ball over the crossbar.
Kilmarnock continued to look the livelier side and their effort was rewarded in the 26th minute, Shiels' goal coming with the first shot on target by either side.
Right-back Alex Pursehouse sent an ambitious long ball that found Heffernan on the left wing, his chip found the run of Dean Shiels, who deftly took a touch before driving the ball diagonally across goal and past Fraser Forster in the Celtic goal from 12 yards out.
With Celtic clearly rattled, Kilmarnock continued to dominate, with Liam Kelly almost increasing the lead in the 37th minute with a long-range shot from 40 yards out to force Forster to tip the ball over the bar.
Paul
Heffernan
extended their
lead just two
minutes later,
with Shiels the
creator.
The Kilmarnock manager's son burst into space to evade Cha before slotting the ball through to Heffernan, who looked a touch offside as he drove home from inside the box.
Celtic then appeared to self-destruct as they lost a third goal. Mulgrew was at fault with a hapless pass-back to Forster that was pounced on by James Fowler, who skilfully lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper.
That scoreline meant changes for Celtic in the second half, with Gary Hooper and Beram Kayal replaced with Wanyama and Bangura.
Their
resurgence was
signalled 10
minutes after
the restart,
with Forrest
waltzing through
the Kilmarnock
defence. He was
eventually
dispossessed by
Kelly, with
Pursehouse
blocking a
second attempt
on goal.
With 69 minutes on the clock, Forrest again attempted to set up Stokes at the back post, the striker unable to match the pace of the ball, sending it behind for a goal kick.
However, he was given the opportunity to make amends when Kilmarnock conceded a free-kick 26 yards from goal, delivering a superb strike that gave Jaakola no chance.
Within
three minutes,
the game was
reignited when
Stokes grabbed a
second. A
right-footed
strike from 22
yards out evaded
the Kilmarnock
keeper, who
perhaps should
have done
better.
Kilmarnock's undoing was completed when Mulgrew headed home from close range with 10 minutes remaining to complete an incredible comeback with three goals in seven minutes.
The Rugby Park side had the chance to snatch victory when Heffernan contrived to head over the crossbar from four yards out with two minutes remaining of regulation time.
