BY RYAN FERRY

JOHN O’Malley admits his side don’t make life easy on their supporters but he beamed with delight after helping his team to glory.

Naomh Conaill were in real trouble at half-time but fought back superbly.

When the game went to extra-time, their conditioning came to the fore although the captain admitted they didn’t win quite as comfortably as they might have.

“We don’t know how to do things the easy way.

“Even in extra-time there we had a serious performance in the first half.

“I think we went six up and then we let them back into it again.

“Whatever it is about this team we can’t just coast to an easy victory but that is what this team is about. We’re never dead.

“We always have the belief.”

O’Malley went off and back on and kicked two vital points in extra-time.

He was thrilled with how it played out in the closing moments and how they surpassed the obstacles that have been in their way.

“That is my seventh.

“It’s very sweet.

“We started the championship so poorly.

“I think when the new rules came in a lot of people thought they wouldn’t suit us.

“We had to reinvent ourselves a wee bit.

“We were saying over the last few weeks that it would be one of the sweetest if we won it and it certainly is.”

Naomh Conaill have had some close calls in the Ulster Senior Championship before but haven’t quite been able to land the silverware.

They’ll aim to give it a good crack this time around but there is some improvement needed according to the skipper.

“I think we have a bit of work to do if we are going to make an impact in Ulster.

“We will enjoy the next few days but we will get the heads down then and we will give it a right good rattle.”