Former Offaly footballer Roy Malone says his old side “downed tools” as they blew a seven-point lead against Longford to make another early exit from the Leinster Football Championship.
The Faithful County were looking for their first win in the competition since 2007 and, after a 13-point win over Longford in the Allianz League Division 4 final three weeks ago, were favourites to progress to a quarter-final with Dublin.
However, Jack Sheedy’s men had other ideas and fought back with 11 of the last 12 points in a 0-16 to 0-13 win in Tullamore.
And 1997 Leinster Championship winner Malone told Midlands 103 Radio: “We played well for about ten minutes at the start of the second half and apart from that Offaly didn’t play well.
“We looked to be in control, we were seven points up with about 15 minutes on the clock in the second half, and from there I really can’t fathom what happened.
“We looked to be stronger, we looked to be fitter, we looked to be in control. We brought Longford into the game with a bit of indiscipline, a couple of frees.
"I really can’t fathom what happened" -Roy Malone
“They crept their way into the game, their confidence grew and then, the Offaly players, they just seem to down tools, especially around the middle.
“We seem to be taking the wrong shot selections, wrong choices going forward, running down blind alleys instead of passing the ball.
"We showed a lack of composure for the last 20 minutes. Players started to look around and there was nobody taking up the mantle.
“I am absolutely devastated because I know that the work Offaly have put in. I thought that they were on the up.
"I said before the game I couldn’t see anything but an Offaly win barring a complete capitulation and I suppose that’s what probably happened in the end.”
Manager Pat Flanagan, who is in his first season in charge and led Offaly to promotion and the Division 4 title, didn’t gloss over the defeat either.
He said: “When the pressure came on today we crumbled, to be totally honest, there’s no point in saying any different.”
