Vinny Perth accused John Sheridan of disrespecting the league and lacking class after an astonishing war of words broke out at Oriel Park.
The champions came from 2-0 down against Waterford with seven minutes to go to rescue a point through Pat Hoban and Daniel Cleary.
And the Lilywhites could have won it in injury-time with Cleary, Sean Gannon and David McMillan all denied.
But none of that masks the fact that Dundalk - behind to Matty Smith and Kurtis Byrne goals - were way off the pace.
And Perth admits it is a big concern going into Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Celje in Budapest.
But there were more fireworks after the final whistle than at any stage during the game with Perth fuming at comments Sherdian made from the touchline late on.
In one post-match interview, ex-Oldham and Chesterfield boss Sheridan even claimed not to know who Perth was.
But Perth said: “He said the league is a shambles, a pub league. I don't have time for that. I love this league.
“He was asked (on TV) 'what happened between you and Vinny? and he said 'who?', Vinny Perth, the Dundalk manager, who?.”
“I don't expect John Sheridan to respect me but I do expect him to respect the league, I care too much about it.
“He came after me to say 'what's your problem' and I said, I think you have disrespected our league.
“He went off and then said 'who are you, you're getting the sack?' We have to be better and I care too much about the league.”
Perth continued: “He may have one up on me for the next few weeks and may take the high ground, but you've got to have a bit of class about you.
“This league means too much to people like me, it's a good league, full of quality, and that behaviour is not good enough.
“He can take the high ground and good luck to him but it's not a pub league, that was the comment.
“I can't accept that on behalf of the league, not just Dundalk but the league. That's poor English league stuff.”
Quizzed about the row, Blues boss Sheridan said: “Nah, it was no problem. He’s come out...I don’t know….
“The manager isn’t it? It wasn't a row. Whatever he feels, whatever he feels. He probably thought he was very lucky to get a point out of the game.”
Sheridan added: “If I’m sat in the dugout not shouting and not saying anything to any of my players, I might as well go home, back to England.”
But Sheridan wasn’t wrong about a lucky point gained for Dundalk as the champions were nowhere near their best for the second game running having lost to Bohs last week.
Sitting third, they are seven points behind Shamrock Rovers who could pull further clear if they win at St Pat’s on Sunday.
Perth said: “We seem to have run over a black cat at this club over the last couple of months.
“With 15 minutes to go last week, Rovers were losing 1-0 in Derry and they won 2-1. But that’s football.
“You have to be better and create your own luck, but there’s no luck around this place at the moment for whatever reason. “There’s a lack of belief in the group at the moment which is very surprising.”
DUNDALK: Rogers; Gannon, Cleary, Hoare, Massey (Oduwa 45); Shields, Mountney (Murray 27); Colovic (Gatt 45), McEleney (Patching 70), Duffy (McMillan 45); Hoban
WATERFORD: Murphy (Ryan 43); Sobowale, Bone, Davidson, McCourt, Wilson; Coote, Weir, Smith; Byrne (Fitzgerald 82), O’Connor.
Referee: R Matthews
