Split season makes American Dream a reality for players and clubs

The GAA summer transfer to the US of A has long held mutual appeal.

The chance for an exotic (sometimes working) holiday with a bit of ball thrown in is an easy sell to young inter-county players while the clubs benefit from some high quality recruits.

The tradition has not been without its controversies of course, such as the late Galway hurler Tony Keady being made a public example of for an unsanctioned club appearance in New York in 1989, and former GAA president Sean McCague threatening to ban the practice altogether in 2002.

The harlequin nature of the season up until this year complicated matters, with players often making hasty departures after their county's championship exits and missing club campaigns, or sitting out the year with the county.

But the introduction of a more defined inter-county season, and most counties not starting their club championships until August, has opened a window for players to sample all three experiences, if that's what they want.

Clare forward Keelan Sexton first travelled to play for Donegal Boston in 2019, having left the panel after survival in the Allianz Football League was assured.

This year, he initially turned down the opportunity but, after Clare were beaten by Derry in an All-Ireland quarter-final, found himself on a plane days later.

"I think I was on the panel four or five years at that stage and just needed a break for the body," the 25-year-old Kilmurry-Ibrickane man told RTÉ Sport of his first venture Stateside. "It definitely recharged the batteries

"I really enjoyed it. The weather is good. It's a great city, there is loads to do and it's a great base for travelling.

"I had been asked earlier in the season if I was interested and I said no, I was obviously hoping we could