Some will be gone for just the summer, some for longer; but this mixture of young talent and experienced inter-county players will all nonetheless be missed by their respective clubs and counties.
No doubt as the summer progresses, more big names will arise, but for now here’s our GAA American summer sanctions football team.
1. Mark McReynolds – Tyrone
It can’t be easy being a young goalkeeper in Tyrone. First Big Pascal McConnell owned the number one jersey for over a decade, and now there’s Niall Morgan to compete with.
But McReynolds has been making good progress through the underage ranks for Tyrone. He lined out for this year’s U21 team as well as for the Jordanstown team during the Sigerson Cup. He will join the Ulster club in San Francisco.
The Laois dual star had his sanction approved to join Donegal/Fr Tom Burkes in mid-April.
The ferocious corner-back led Donegal to their last Boston championship during a stint in the city in 2010. He lined out in the full-back line then, but so far this summer he has been appearing at wing-back.
Laois’ loss is no doubt Boston’s gain – but the Portlaoise man will be sorely missed by Tomás Ó Flatharta this summer.
Ken Sutton / INPHO
Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO
3. Killian Clarke – Cavan
Clarke was nominated for an Allstar last year, despite still being eligible for the U21 grade this year.
The Jordanstown student played in the Sigerson Cup final this year, as well as winning the u21 Ulster title and reaching the Division 3 league final with Cavan.
He has been lining out in the half-back line for the Wolfe Tones club in Boston.
The young corner-back started five league games this year for the Rebels. The former underage captain won a Sigerson cup last year, and was integral in reaching the county final with Nemo Rangers last October.
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Cronin will line out for the Padraig Pearse club in Chicago.
The diminutive Crosserlough youngster, who was a surprise starter for Terry Hyland’s team against Armagh in the Ulster championship opener, will join Killian Clarke at Boston club Wolfe Tones.
Like Clarke he was a member of this year’s U21 team who won their fourth consecutive Ulster championship this year.
Presseye / Russell Pritchard/INPHO
Presseye / Russell Pritchard/INPHO / Russell Pritchard/INPHO
6. Jarlath Curley – Dublin
Jarlath Curley starred in defence as St Vincent’s won the All-Ireland senior club football title last March. The DCU student was awarded with a Dublin Blue Star for his performances at full-back for St Vincents. Still only 20, Curley will spend this summer in Chicago with the McBrides club.
McHugh will be playing his football in a Donegal jersey this summer, only it won’t be in Ireland.
The 2012 All-Ireland winner and All-Star left the Donegal panel at the end of April, due to a loss of form as well as claiming he was no longer enjoying his football. He will be playing for the Donegal club in Boston.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
8. James Walsh – Kerry
Walsh has been one of the few players to emerge from recent Kerry U21 teams and break into the senior panel. The Knocknagoshel midfielder was drafted in last year, and again this year he was involved with the Kerry panel throughout the league.
Walsh will spend this summer with the Shannon Blues club in Boston. Another man to depart the Kingdom is U21 captain Nathan Breen who is playing with Leitrim in New York.
Tom Honan / INPHO
Tom Honan / INPHO / INPHO
9. David McCormack – Westmeath
Still U21, Westmeath’s David McCormack had been pushing hard to break into Paul Bealin’s team. Having featured in six league games this year, as well as being an early first half sub in last month’s Leinster championship defeat to Louth, McCormack subsequently broke his nose and cheek bone during a challenge game.
Once recovered, he will be playing ball in Boston with Connemara Gaels.
10. Ian Burke – Galway
Selected as the 2013 Cadbury’s U21 Hero of the Future, after scoring four points for Galway in last year’s All-Ireland decider.
The diminutive corner-forward who joint the likes of Colm O’Neil and Ciaran Kilkenny as winners of the award, decided to spend last summer in Boston with the Connemara Gaels club. This year he decided to do the same and he left for the US at the beginning of the month.
After a promising league campaign O’Boyle had started Derry’s championship opener against Donegal late last month, although he was substituted after 44 minutes by manager Brendan McIver. The Lavey club man had scored 5-7 in his eight league games this year, including 1-1 in the league final against Dublin.
The DCU student, now 23, has been heavily involved with the Louth seniors during the past two pre-seasons and despite some impressive showings for his club, university and county he has not yet been given a crack at the senior championship.
This year the St Patrick’s half-forward played in five league games for the Wee County but he’s now off to St Brendan’s in Chicago for the remainder of the summer. As is fellow Louth forward Stephen Campbell.
13. Conor Cox – Kerry
In just two starts and one substitute appearance during the league for Kerry, Cox scored 11 points. The UCC student was top scorer for his university side as they won the Sigerson Cup in February.
Cox left for San Francisco and the Michael Cusacks club earlier this month, while Barry John Walsh has also departed the county. The younger brother of AFL player Tommy will pair up with his county man in San Fran.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
14. Eoin Bradley – Derry
‘Skinner’ as he’s often referred to opted not to play with the Derry senior football team this year – first choosing to commit to Coleraine FC and now deciding to spend his summer in Boston.
It hasn’t taken Bradley long to replicate his Derry form in a Donegal jersey. Earlier this month he scored nine points in guiding them to the ‘Pat O’Brien Cup’.
The Ballina youngster broke into the Mayo senior set-up last year excelling in a number of league games. Although he has not pushed on this year, no longer in James Horan’s plans it would seem, Regan bagged 1-3 against the Roscommon U21 team in this year’s Connacht quarter-final.
He will spend this summer in Chicago with the John McBrides club, yet there’s no doubt he’ll be back in a Mayo jersey for many a summer to come. Ballintubber’ Daniel Geraghty was another youngster called into Jame’s Horan’s panel last year who has decided to spend this summer in the US, in his case; New York.
Here's our summer's American sanctions football XV
WE PICKED THE best fifteen players who will be playing their football in the States this summer, after they appeared in the GAA’s official New York, North American and J1 sanctions list.
Some will be gone for just the summer, some for longer; but this mixture of young talent and experienced inter-county players will all nonetheless be missed by their respective clubs and counties.
No doubt as the summer progresses, more big names will arise, but for now here’s our GAA American summer sanctions football team.
1. Mark McReynolds – Tyrone
It can’t be easy being a young goalkeeper in Tyrone. First Big Pascal McConnell owned the number one jersey for over a decade, and now there’s Niall Morgan to compete with.
But McReynolds has been making good progress through the underage ranks for Tyrone. He lined out for this year’s U21 team as well as for the Jordanstown team during the Sigerson Cup. He will join the Ulster club in San Francisco.
2. Cahir Healy – Laois
The Laois dual star had his sanction approved to join Donegal/Fr Tom Burkes in mid-April.
The ferocious corner-back led Donegal to their last Boston championship during a stint in the city in 2010. He lined out in the full-back line then, but so far this summer he has been appearing at wing-back.
Laois’ loss is no doubt Boston’s gain – but the Portlaoise man will be sorely missed by Tomás Ó Flatharta this summer.
3. Killian Clarke – Cavan
Clarke was nominated for an Allstar last year, despite still being eligible for the U21 grade this year.
The Jordanstown student played in the Sigerson Cup final this year, as well as winning the u21 Ulster title and reaching the Division 3 league final with Cavan.
He has been lining out in the half-back line for the Wolfe Tones club in Boston.
4. Alan Cronin – Cork
The young corner-back started five league games this year for the Rebels. The former underage captain won a Sigerson cup last year, and was integral in reaching the county final with Nemo Rangers last October.
Cronin will line out for the Padraig Pearse club in Chicago.
5. Dara McVeety – Cavan
The diminutive Crosserlough youngster, who was a surprise starter for Terry Hyland’s team against Armagh in the Ulster championship opener, will join Killian Clarke at Boston club Wolfe Tones.
Like Clarke he was a member of this year’s U21 team who won their fourth consecutive Ulster championship this year.
6. Jarlath Curley – Dublin
Jarlath Curley starred in defence as St Vincent’s won the All-Ireland senior club football title last March. The DCU student was awarded with a Dublin Blue Star for his performances at full-back for St Vincents. Still only 20, Curley will spend this summer in Chicago with the McBrides club.
7. Mark McHugh – Donegal
McHugh will be playing his football in a Donegal jersey this summer, only it won’t be in Ireland.
The 2012 All-Ireland winner and All-Star left the Donegal panel at the end of April, due to a loss of form as well as claiming he was no longer enjoying his football. He will be playing for the Donegal club in Boston.
8. James Walsh – Kerry
Walsh has been one of the few players to emerge from recent Kerry U21 teams and break into the senior panel. The Knocknagoshel midfielder was drafted in last year, and again this year he was involved with the Kerry panel throughout the league.
Walsh will spend this summer with the Shannon Blues club in Boston. Another man to depart the Kingdom is U21 captain Nathan Breen who is playing with Leitrim in New York.
9. David McCormack – Westmeath
Still U21, Westmeath’s David McCormack had been pushing hard to break into Paul Bealin’s team. Having featured in six league games this year, as well as being an early first half sub in last month’s Leinster championship defeat to Louth, McCormack subsequently broke his nose and cheek bone during a challenge game.
Once recovered, he will be playing ball in Boston with Connemara Gaels.
10. Ian Burke – Galway
Selected as the 2013 Cadbury’s U21 Hero of the Future, after scoring four points for Galway in last year’s All-Ireland decider.
The diminutive corner-forward who joint the likes of Colm O’Neil and Ciaran Kilkenny as winners of the award, decided to spend last summer in Boston with the Connemara Gaels club. This year he decided to do the same and he left for the US at the beginning of the month.
11. Caoilean O’Boyle – Derry
After a promising league campaign O’Boyle had started Derry’s championship opener against Donegal late last month, although he was substituted after 44 minutes by manager Brendan McIver. The Lavey club man had scored 5-7 in his eight league games this year, including 1-1 in the league final against Dublin.
He now joins the Aidan McAnespies club in Boston.
12. Eoin O’Connor – Louth
The DCU student, now 23, has been heavily involved with the Louth seniors during the past two pre-seasons and despite some impressive showings for his club, university and county he has not yet been given a crack at the senior championship.
This year the St Patrick’s half-forward played in five league games for the Wee County but he’s now off to St Brendan’s in Chicago for the remainder of the summer. As is fellow Louth forward Stephen Campbell.
13. Conor Cox – Kerry
In just two starts and one substitute appearance during the league for Kerry, Cox scored 11 points. The UCC student was top scorer for his university side as they won the Sigerson Cup in February.
Cox left for San Francisco and the Michael Cusacks club earlier this month, while Barry John Walsh has also departed the county. The younger brother of AFL player Tommy will pair up with his county man in San Fran.
14. Eoin Bradley – Derry
‘Skinner’ as he’s often referred to opted not to play with the Derry senior football team this year – first choosing to commit to Coleraine FC and now deciding to spend his summer in Boston.
It hasn’t taken Bradley long to replicate his Derry form in a Donegal jersey. Earlier this month he scored nine points in guiding them to the ‘Pat O’Brien Cup’.
15. Evan Regan – Mayo
The Ballina youngster broke into the Mayo senior set-up last year excelling in a number of league games. Although he has not pushed on this year, no longer in James Horan’s plans it would seem, Regan bagged 1-3 against the Roscommon U21 team in this year’s Connacht quarter-final.
He will spend this summer in Chicago with the John McBrides club, yet there’s no doubt he’ll be back in a Mayo jersey for many a summer to come. Ballintubber’ Daniel Geraghty was another youngster called into Jame’s Horan’s panel last year who has decided to spend this summer in the US, in his case; New York.
‘We trained all year to play three Championship games – which is ridiculous’
The GAA football emigrants XV – 15 intercounty players who are away this summer
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Championship 2014 GAA GAA Abroad XV