 Later that year, however, Máel Gualae fell into the hands of the Dublin Norsemen, who killed him in a pagan sacrifice.Thus ended – for a time, at least – the alliance between Cerball mac Dúnlainge and the Norsemen.The following two years were marked by the fluctuating fortunes of both natives and invaders; alliances between the two were fluid and the conflict was relentless.