As countless inter-county players tailor their working life around training and playing commitments, Danny Sutcliffe takes another view.
The 26-year-old returned to the Dublin hurling panel for this year's league following two seasons away. He spent last year working in New York following the completion of a Masters in Finance at DCU.
"It's great to get outside Ireland and get a bit of perspective outside the bubble that is Ireland and the GAA," Sutcliffe told Balls at the launch of Kellogg's GAA Cúl Camps.
"I was always going to do it, I wouldn't prioritise a GAA career over working or travelling; whatever lads want to do.
"I'm here and I'll do it - I'll give it everything, obviously - but I wouldn't put anything on hold for it either."
While in New York, Sutcliffe maintained his skill by playing for the Ulster club. He was part of the Ulster side which won its first ever New York Championship.
"You could say that," replied the St. Jude's man when asked if the brand of hurling played in NYC is a physical one - he had to buy a new helmet when he returned home.
It was alright, like, no yellow cards, anyway. I was well able to look after myself but it was mental.
It wasn't just on the pitch that Sutcliffe found GAA culture in New York to be manic.
"Most games were like a championship final over there. I suppose when you're abroad, the Irish community come together for stuff like that.
"Every Sunday, it's a big event - kids, family. It's a meeting point, some people aren't even looking at the games. It was a brilliant atmosphere up in the Bronx on a Sunday.
"You obviously have your J1 lads coming over as well, who thought that we could go out with them all the time, but we were working from Monday to Friday, trying to get them to turn off their phone after a game."
His time in the States was more noted back home when he made an appearance for the New York footballers against Sligo in the Connacht Championship last year. Sligo won that battle in the Bronx by eight points.
"That was just to keep the dress size down. After Christmas, the diet wasn't super over in America," joked Sutcliffe about his cameo.
"I wouldn't class myself as a footballer, I was doing a lot of running.
"It was open trials for New York and I tipped on up. I kept building speed and the game was in May. I made the team and we played Sligo. We lost but they should do it this year.
"They have a serious turnover of players because of the Visas; it's a year Visa. They have nearly a completely new 15 this year and it's a strong 15 - there's one or two from last year - I'd say they should take Leitrim this year.
Sutcliffe lived in Brooklyn with two friends and worked in Manhattan, it was a lifestyle and working culture he enjoyed.
Irish people tend to take a negative out of a situation where they'll take a positive. Everyone wants to do well over there while Irish people have a tendency to begrudge each other.
It definitely brought me on in spades and anyone who went over with me. It's real character building being over there and I'm delighted I did it.
It's a great opportunity to have, the Visa, a lot of undergrad students don't take it - which I think they're mad not to do.
Though, he did get some strange looks while carrying his hurley on the subway.
"My mother was like, 'Do not get the subway over there'. I was getting more looks on the subway with a hurl in a shirt and slacks than they were giving me. I was getting the dodgy looks."
Back and Cúler than ever, the Kellogg's GAA Cúl Camps programme for 2018 was launched by Danny Sutcliffe, (Dublin hurler),Arian Cooke, Co. Wicklow, age 6, Juno Murray, Dun Laoghaire age 6 and Andy Moran (Mayo footballer) pictured as they helped kick off the campaign at the of opening Ireland's first-ever pop-up cereal café .
Last year more than 142,000 children took part in Ireland's largest summer camps enjoying a week of activity, nutrition, fun and GAA. Visit kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie for information and registration.
