His league and championship career at senior level with the Mayo county team spanned six seasons from 1930 until 1936.
O'Malley made his senior debut for Mayo during the 1930-31 league and quickly became a regular member of the starting fifteen.
Over the course of the following six years he enjoyed much success, the highlight being in 1936 when he won an All-Ireland medal as captain of the team.
Even during his playing days, O'Malley became involved in the administrative affairs of the Gaelic Athletic Association.
His son, Michael O'Malley, and his grandson, Niall Finnegan, also played with Mayo and Galway.