The manager of the history-making USGAA team which is the first of its kind to play at the All-Ireland Junior Championship believes the players will stay in the game "for as long as their bodies let them" after the competition.
Aidan Corr and Louie Bradley are head coaches of USGAA, the first county team of all homegrown players to play at the Junior Championship . Twenty eight players from 12 clubs across the US will travel to Ireland on July 7 to compete at the event - the curtain-raiser of the Men's Senior semi-final at Croke Park, Ireland's national stadium.
Aidan, 56, from Belfast has been involved with Philadelphia GAA for two decades, meaning he is best-positioned to guide the men to victory on Irish soil . The father-of-three concedes that would be "a dream for most GAA players".
Aidan told IrishStar.com : "We're taking it one game at a time but anyone would be lucky to play at Croker . It's a dream for most players and we certainly share in that dream. We have done throughout our whole GAA careers .
"Louie and I were lucky enough to get the call to manage the team. Delco Gaels , who I have mainly been involved with, are considered at the forefront of the homegrown movement . The whole country has bought into this, from the USGAA board to the steering committee. From the fundraisers to the facilities, everything has been amazing."
Aidan, who is dad to Aaron, 26, who is part of the USGAA team, Ciaran, 21, and Ava, 19, met his wife, Lorna, from Dublin , a fellow Delco Gaels coach, two months after moving to Philadelphia to play football in the summer of 1992.
The Irishman had "no real plans" to make Philadelphia his home but eventually settled in the suburbs. He has played at all levels but is a proud Delco Gael . Eleven other Gaels are part of a panel of 28 heading to Ireland this week.
Aidan praised their character and adaptability. He went on: "Our journey with those lads from a very young age has been pretty spectacular. A Junior All-Ireland is something none of us ever thought we'd reach, but here we are.
"We've been fortunate to have had this group of players stay together. The dedication they put in and the love they have for each other has made it really easy to coach them. We've had this group for almost 20 years so the trust is solid. There are very few people at my age still coaching their kids and their kids' friend and still enjoying it.
"I hope to keep progressing through the ranks and that kids now graduating from college can look at what we and they've achieved and aspire to be part of something like this."
USGAA will take on two teams from England, Kilkenny GAA, and New York GAA , who were crowned the All Ireland Junior Champions for the first time ever after a dramatic win against Kilkenny at Croke Park in Dublin last year.
USGAA's opponents are currently unconfirmed but Aidan insists the team "isn't short on talent" and recent friendlies have undoubtedly helped them on their way to give clubs across the pond a run for their money .
He went on: "We've played some inter squad games as well as a Boston select and a Queen's University team which were encouraging. The players meshing as a team was always going to be the biggest concern considering players have been pulled in from such a vast area and only meet on a monthly basis.
"We're really coming together, though, and I see a cohesive unit forming. The players' attitudes are outstanding - they are so dedicated to the cause - plus we have an idea now on what it's like to play against different opposition.
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"We're going into some of these games blind as we have no idea what the standard is but all we can do is control our own team and do what we can as coaches to implement a system. From there, I'm sure the team will flourish."
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