Cathal Ryan is a Gaelic football

Gaelic football

Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...

 player from Laois in Ireland

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

.

He usually plays at full back for Laois and in 2003 was part of the Laois team that won the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship

All-Ireland Minor Football Championship

The All-Ireland Minor Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for under-18 competitors of the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...

 title for the first time since 1997.

The following year he made his senior inter county championship debut in an ill fated qualifier defeat at the hands of Tyrone in Croke Park

Croke Park

Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...

.

In 2006, Cathal was part of the Laois team that won the Leinster U21 Football Championship.

He also plays for his home town club Portarlington

Portarlington GAA

Portarlington GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association gaelic football club in Portarlington, County Laois, Ireland.The club grounds are called McCann Park and club colours are maroon jerseys with a green sash and white shorts....

where his position varies from midfield to defence.