AARON Burns was the star of the show with a three-goal haul which restored Linfield's seven point lead.

Burns might have fired the Blues into a 10th minute lead when he tested Niall Morgan with a curling free-kick into the top corner only for the Swifts 'keeper to meet the challenge with an equally as impressive save.

But he did find the net on 32 minutes following a run down the left which saw him cut inside the Swifts defence and deliver a right-foot drive into the bottom corner.

Then, on 54 minutes, Burns struck again after collecting a Michael Carvill ball to slot home from six yards.

And he almost added a third just a couple of minutes after that with a thundering drive from a Robert Garrett lay-off only to see Ryan O'Neill head the ball to safety.

However, the 19-year-old did get his hat-trick on 69 minutes after Carvill beat the offside trap to set up the opening for Burns to finish into the corner of the net.

Chris Casement might have added a fourth right at the end only for his chip from the edge of the area to be tipped over by Morgan.

Linfield: Blayney, Douglas, Murphy, Lowry, Thompson, Carvill, B.J. Burns, A. Burns, Garrett, Mulgrew, Watson subs Armstrong (not used), Fordyce (replaced Thompson 80), Browne (replaced 82), Addis (not used), Casement (replaced Mulgrew 75)

Dungannon Swifts: Morgan, O'Neill, Montgomery, Gallagher, McClean, Harpur, Friars, S. Lavery, Fitzpatrick, Topley, McKerr subs Murphy (not used), Campbell (replaced Lavery 37), Funston (replaced McKerr 64), McMinn (not used), L. Donnelly (replaced Montgomery 80)

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• Johnny Montgomery attempts to close down Michael Carvill (Picture: Brian Little/PressEye.com)