Omagh CBS go into the MacRory Cup in the New Year as the only side yet to taste defeat this season after they retained the MacCormack Cup with a win over St.Mary's Magherafelt on Wednesday night.
No doubt they will be installed as favourites to go one better than last season and win the blue riband event in colleges football and while pleased with this latest success their joint manager Ciaran McBride knows that it's what happens after Christmas that matters most.
"The league has been good and has been gradual and we have had good tests along the way. It was good preparation for where we wanted to be at this time of the year.
" We are always preaching to the boys about the various challenges that arise from game to game in preparation for the MacRory Cup because ultimately that is everybody's aim.
" I like the MacCormack Cup because it's a reward for putting in the hard work before Christmas but it's a means to an end. It's the next step and you move on.
"It's a bit like National League football and Championship football, nobody ever remembers the National League champions."
Omagh went into the final against Magherafelt as warm favourites but they were pushed to the pin of their collar by their opponents and that didn't surprise McBride who praised his charges with the way that they responded after conceding a late goal.
"They had some great players. They have a lovely balance throughout their side and you have to remember that our side is dominated by year fourteens while their side is dominated by year thirteens and that's a mighty reflection on them. At no point did we put them away during the game.
" We were two down early on and then went two up but we never capitalised on that and conceding the goal near the end was a challenge for our boys.
" At the end of the day they asked questions of us but our boys responded to it which was great because at that time most sides would collapse and perhaps concede another point. Then all of a sudden you are faced with extra time."
