Dean Shiels on as a 74th-minute substitute. Shiels scored his first goal for Kilmarnock in a 2–1 away defeat to Inverness CT. He scored a penalty in a 1–0 win over Hearts, after Marius Zaliukas fouled Paul Heffernan. Shiels signed for Kilmarnock on a permanent basis in January 2012. Shiels scored the only goal of the Scottish League Cup semi-final against Ayrshire derby rivals Ayr United on 28 January. He also scored the winning goal in a game against Rangers at Ibrox on 18 February, in Rangers' first game after entering administration. On 18 March, he played in the 2012 Scottish League
Dean Shiels NASL, Shiels returned to Scotland with Championship club Dunfermline Athletic. In November 2017, two players from Falkirk, Dunfermline's local rivals, were charged with 'excessive misconduct' for taunting Shiels over his visual impairment during a Scottish Challenge Cup fixture between the sides, following an incident during the match in which Shiels had been sent off. Both players were given lengthy suspensions. Shiels left Dunfermline at the end of his contract, having played 25 times for the side. Shortly after leaving Dunfermline, Shiels signed an 18-month pre-contract with League of Ireland Premier Division side Derry City, where he would once again play