American club confirm deadline day signing of Mayo duo

This is new territory for the men of Mayo.

For the first time since 2011, Mayo's championship dreams were ended prior to the dawn of July. For so long, the men of the west have been a fixture of the closing stages of the championship. Perennial contenders, this Mayo football team have brought not only their own county but the whole country on a journey like no other over the last few years. It's hardly surprising then that they're the best supported team in the land. Perhaps the highest compliment you could possibly pay to the Yew County warriors is that they've added a new dimension to what it takes to be remembered as one of the great teams. Yes, they're the best team to never win an All-Ireland but contrary to the history books, this is a team full of winners. Heartbreak upon heartbreak, this Mayo team have suffered like no other but where other teams have rolled over they've never thrown in the towel. They just don't know how to and that's a victory in itself. It's no secret that the journey is often more important than the destination and though Mayo's aim has always been to lift Sam, the burning desire that infatuates every single soul out west every burning second is something special in its own right. It's something special that folks from counties all over envy, there's no doubting that. They went down in Newbridge on Saturday evening, but by God, they went down fighting. A fight is never in question when Mayo are involved. In the end, injuries, an insatiable Kildare outfit amidst other factors finally defeated the men that never ever say die and now the whole county has to think of something new to do for the rest of the year. There'll be no more scrambling for tickets, no more organising lifts to Croker, there'll be no hotels being booked the night before their heroes take to the field. For the players, they've a rare half-summer off. Maybe it'll be the best thing that ever happened to them and they'll be rejuvenated for next year. Don't think for a second that they won't be thinking that. In the meantime, though they can do whatever the hell they want for a while. A rare summer of freedom opens different doors and a couple of Mayo men are exploring life outside of Croke Park. Of course, the GAA is still to the forefront but this time it's in America. Diarmuid O'Connor and Conor Loftus are following the path of hordes of Ireland's young GAA players by joining up with a GAA club in America for the next few months. The DCU and DIT students respectively are heading across the pond on J1 Visas and they just arrived stateside just on time for the July 1 deadline to play GAA for the summer. They will be playing with McBride's GAA club in Chicago. https://twitter.com/McBridesGaa/status/1013865567961473028 The American club thanked the pair's clubs, and ensured them that they'll have them back in time and gunning for the Mayo county championship. That's what it's all about. Nobody deserves the chance more than they Mayo men.