Roy Malone was at a loss to explain Offaly's late collapse against Longford.

Thirteen-point winners over the same opposition in last month's Allianz League Division 4 final, the Faithful had a seven-point lead wiped out in the closing stages at O'Connor Park last night as Jack Sheedy's charges stormed back to take the Leinster SFC spoils.

"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," 1997 Leinster SFC winning full forward Malone said on Midlands 103.

"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.

"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 seemed 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."

The Rhode man added: "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."

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