BY RYAN FERRY

NAOMH Conaill captain John O’Malley has enjoyed adapting to the new rules but admits that his team are still trying to figure things out.

The Davy Brennan Memorial Park were one of the most established club teams in Ulster over the last few years.

They set up with a strong, defensive structure which suited them and they made a habit out of winning tough struggles.

It’s not quite as simple as that these days as every team has to keep three players up the field and that means there’s more space to exploit.

Naomh Conaill have a lot of clever players but with so many committed to the senior and Under 20 county squads, they haven’t had a huge amount of time to work on the changes, and O’Malley says in some ways they are learning on the go.

“I think there’s still a bit of figuring out for a lot of teams but I think it definitely makes for a better spectacle.

“Games in general were never over until they were over but especially more so now, you’re seeing so many times, you’ve seen them at the intercounty season and club championships all over the country now, so many late comebacks and what not.

“I’m in my 16th year now playing senior football and you build up all the experience and then you come to this year it feels like it’s not worth as much as it was last year.

“But it’s been good. It’s definitely an enjoyable game to play and I think it’s definitely more of an enjoyable game to watch.”

O’Malley is comfortable playing in the half-forward line or full-forward line.

The rule changes have meant that forwards can stay up in the top three and don’t have to track back as much as before but there are pros and cons according to O’Malley.

“I would’ve thought (I’d prefer) top three, especially now that the legs aren’t what they used to be, but funny in the top three you’re not involved as much.

“When you’re in that middle sector you’re seeing much more of the ball but the demands of it are so high and with transitions and that, I don’t think that anyone could be caught going up and down all day.

“Everyone, whether you’re taking a break in the top three or the back three, has to rotate at different stages during the game anyway so I don’t think there’s such a thing as being in the top three all the time or anything like that, you have to be ready to get back when needs be as well.”

Naomh Conaill had a rare early exit last season when they were knocked out at the quarter-final stage.

They lost to eventual champions St Eunan’s by a point.

That was a frustrating defeat but they have fought back this season.

O’Malley admits that their form has been mixed at times but they are content with where they are.

“I think it was important for us to get back and get competitive this year, so to be sitting in a county final, especially after a slow start to the championship, we’re very, very happy.”

O’Malley enjoys his football and was an interested spectator at the Intermediate final last weekend.

However, he says he hasn’t been keeping that close of an eye on Gaoth Dobhair.

He took the decision to avoid watching their semi-final over St Michael’s as he wanted no distractions in the lead up to his last four clash with Four Masters.

However, O’Malley knows that Martin Regan and his management team will have been diving deep into the video analysis over the last fortnight.

“I haven’t seen that much of them, I haven’t got a chance to watch their semi-final yet.

“I’d be a bit superstitious about that, didn’t watch them on the Saturday, wanted to concentrate on our own game, but by all accounts, from what I’ve heard, they’ve sounded like they’ve been the most impressive team all championship, obviously the only team that went unbeaten.

“We’ll be under no illusions, I know that they’re probably going in as favourites into this final, they sound like they’re going really, really well, but Regan and the boys will have their homework done on them too.”