They might share a common cause but this weekend, the Denver Gaels and Seattle Gaels GAA clubs are split by a common desire for Super Bowl success.

Early on Sunday morning at Pennypack Park, about 20 minutes northeast of Philadelphia, you could still enjoy the last bits of calm before the third and final day of the North American GAA Championships really kicked into gear.

The spark was lit during the summer of 2002, the weekend of Stephen Quigley’s wedding in Indianapolis.

GAA director general Paraic Duffy has underlined that GAA inter-county players who want to play in GAA competitions in North America (NACB) this summer - in either hurling or football - can only do so if they hold a valid, current J1 visa and a separate J1 sanction.