We excel at boxing considering our population and our ancestors forced to leave our shores prove it. 5 of the British amateurs in the Worlds had Irish surnames...McCormack, Joyce etc.
The GAA might get the cream in rural areas but I disagree they do in cities. The eye has been on the Dubs recently but people forget the lean yrs from '95 to 2011 when the Hill on tour was a paltry few, and when did we win the hurling last? Like the Dub footballers, every now and then a few great players appear on the scene just as they did in Charlton's era.
The typically middle-class pursuits of golf(not a sport) and Rugger always had the filter schools at primary level ensuring later success. However, great to see a few decent ballers from the Nth inner-city of Dublin such as Hoolohan, Kendrick and Brady getting their moment in the sun. Not so long ago these lads would have been lost to boxing and martial arts...so there's hope. It has to start at knee-high level.
The Dubs realised that back in the early noughties when the fans were hurling bottles of piss at the team as they left the field after another hammering.