When the influx of new ethnic communities into Ireland began in earnest following EU expansion in 2004, it seemed highly probable that soccer would prove the primary beneficiary, with practically every UEFA member association demonstrating the value of new arrivals through national team squads. Yet to date, sporting integration has proven most pronounced in the GAA, with the O'hAlpín brothers in the previous decade, Lee Chin presently, and Stefan Okunbor set to break into the Kerry senior squad next year.
Perhaps underage structures and community development are most favourable in the indigenous sports, with county leagues and championships facilitating the growth of young talents, in contrast to soccer, where teenage exports to England remain significant, even while the LoI career route is increasingly recognised. Similarly, rugby, though focused provincially, perhaps overconcentrates on academy hothousing at too early an age, with too many individual players lost to amateur levels as a consequence.
Perhaps underage structures and community development are most favourable in the indigenous sports, with county leagues and championships facilitating the growth of young talents, in contrast to soccer, where teenage exports to England remain significant, even while the LoI career route is increasingly recognised. Similarly, rugby, though focused provincially, perhaps overconcentrates on academy hothousing at too early an age, with too many individual players lost to amateur levels as a consequence.
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