Declan Ryan
Encyclopedia
Declan Ryan is an Irish
hurling
manager
and former player. He is the current manager of the Tipperary
senior hurling team.
Regarded as one of his county's greatest hurling servants, Ryan enjoyed a successful playing career at club level with Clonoulty-Rossmore
and at inter-county level with Tipperary
. He was a forward on the latter team from 1988 until 2001 and has the distinction of being one of a handful of players to have won All-Ireland
medals in three different decades. Ryan also collected five Munster
titles, four National Hurling League
titles and two All-Star
awards.
In retirement from playing Ryan has become involved in team management. He served as manager of the Tipperary minor hurling team for two seasons, guiding the team to a second consecutive All-Ireland
title in 2007. Ryan was appointed manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team in November 2010.
club and enjoyed much success in a career that spanned three decades.
After coming to prominence as an under-age player Ryan later established himself on the club's senior team. In 1989 Clonoulty-Rossmore qualified for the final of county senior championship
for the first time in 101 years. Reigning champions Loughmore-Castleiney
provided the opposition on that occasion, however, history was on the side of Ryan and his club. A narrow 1-11 to 1-9 score line gave Clonoulty-Rossmore a coveted county title.
It was 1997 before Ryan lined out in his second county championship decider. Mullinahone
were the opposition on that occasion, however, Clonoulty provided too strong once again. A 0-17 to 1-12 score line gave Ryan a second county title to add to his collection.
In 1998 Clonoulty-Rossmore were give the opportunity to make history by retaining their championship title when the club qualified for the county final once again. Toomevara
were the opponents on that occasion and a close game developed. A 0-16 to 1-10 score line resulted in defeat for Ryan's side.
minor hurling team in the mid-1980s. In 1986 his inter-county career nearly ended before it began in a Munster minor hurling championship
game against Cork. Ryan, while lying on the ground, was struck in the face by a wild pull and received multiple stitches. He recovered from this set back to subsequently become a dual player
of both hurling and Gaelic football
at under-21 level.
It was as a member of the Tipperary under-21 hurlng team that Ryan enjoyed his first major success on the inter-county scene. In 1989 he was captain of the team for the year and guided his team to an appearance in the provincial decider. Limerick
provided the opposition, however, the game turned into an absolute rout. A 5-16 to 1-6 score line gave Tipp the title and gave Ryan a coveted Munster
under-21 winners' medal. Tipperary later qualified for the All-Ireland final where Offaly
provided the opposition. The game turned into a close affair, however, Tipperary prevailed by 4-10 to 3-11. Not only did Ryan collect a coveted All-Ireland
under-21 winners' medal but he also had the honour, as captain, of collecting the cup on behalf of his team.
winners' medal following a 3-15 to 2-9 defeat of Offaly. He later captured his first Munster
winners' medal at senior level following a 2-19 to 1-13 victory over Cork. A subsequent defeat of Antrim
allowed Tipp to advance to the All-Ireland final where Galway
provided the opposition. The westerners were the reigning champions, however, it was expected that Tipp might possibly shade the victory. Galway, however, used this to motivate themselves. Noel Lane
scored the crucial goal for Galway while Nicky English
sent a late penalty over the bar for a point. A 1-15 to 0-14 score line resulted in victory for Galway and defeat for Ryan. In spite of this defeat Ryan finished off his debut season by receiving his first All-Star
award.
In 1989 Tipperary were still the best team in Munster and Ryan won his second provincial title in-a-row after a 0-26 to 2-8 trouncing of Waterford
. For the third time in as many years Tipp faced Galway in the All-Ireland series, however, on this occasion the men from the West were without their star player Tony Keady
. The game turned out to be a tense and unsavory affair as Tipp finally triumphed over Galway. Antrim, the surprise winners of the other semi-final, provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland final
. It was an historic occasion as it was only the second appearance of an Ulster
team in the championship decider. Antrim’s relative inexperience robbed the final of any real element of contest and Tipp romped home to a 4-24 to 3-9 win, courtesy of a star performance by Nicky English. Because of this Tipp preserved their record of being the only team to win an All-Ireland title in every decade in GAA history. It was Ryan's first senior All-Ireland
winners' medal.
In 1990 Tipperary surrendered their Munster crown to Cork for the first time in four years. This defeat followed Babs Keating’s infamous remark about Cork that ‘donkeys don’t win derbies’.
Tipp returned in 1991
and defeated Cork in a thrilling Munster final replay giving Ryan his third provincial medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Tipp take on Kilkenny
for the first time in twenty years. A freak goal by Michael Cleary
in the first-half gave Tipp a lead which they never surrendered. A 1-16 to 0-15 victory allowed Ryan to capture his second All-Ireland winners' medal in three years.
1992 saw Tipp exit the championship at an early stage, however, the team bounced back for one last hurrah in 1993
. That year Ryan added a fourth Munster winners' medal to his collection as Tipp trounced Clare
by 3-27 to 2-12. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final saw Tipp renew their rivalry with Galway; however, on this occasion Galway took the spoils. This defeat brought the curtain down on Tipp’s great revival, however, Ryan did collect a second National League title in 1994.
The next few years saw Limerick and Clare dominate the provincial series of games. After defeat after a draw and a replay in the Munster final of 1996, Ryan lined out in the provincial decider again in 1997
. Clare provided the opposition on that occasion, however, it was an occasion to forget for Ryan as Tipp lost a close and exciting game by 1-18 to 0-18. The introduction of the new ‘back-door’ system resulted in both Clare and Tipperary meeting for the second time in the first all-Munster All-Ireland final. The game itself was one of the best of the decade. Clare were well on top for much of the game, however, Liam Cahill
and Eugene O'Neill
scored twice for Tipp in the last ten minutes. John Leahy
missed a goal chance in the last minute while another Tipp point was controversially ruled wide. At the full-time whistle Clare had won by a single point – 0-20 to 2-13.
Ryan added a third National League medal to his collection in 1999; however, further success in the championship still eluded him with provincial final defeat again in 2000.
In 2001 Tipp made a third consecutive appearance in the National League final. After one victory and one defeat Ryan's side were successful again and defeated Clare by 1-19 to 0-17. It was Ryan's fourth winners’ medal in that competition. Later that year Tipp contested the Munster final. Tipperary defeated Limerick by 2-16 to 1-17 on that occasion giving Ryan a fifth Munster winners' medal. After a draw and a replay against Wexford
Ryan later lined out in Croke Park
in a fifth All-Ireland final
. Old rivals Galway provided the opposition on that occasion; however, two goals by Tipp’s Mark O'Leary
gave the Munster men the threshold to withstand a Galway comeback. With nine minutes to go Ryan's side only led by one point, however, Tipperary outscored Galway by five to three in those closing minutes. At the final whistle Tipperary were the winners by 2-18 to 2-15. Not only did Ryan collect his third All-Ireland winners' medal but he also joined an exclusive club of players to have won championship titles in three separate decades. Following this victory Ryan retired from inter-county hurling.
as manager of the Tipperary Minor hurling team. In his first year in charge Tipperary won the Munster Minor Hurling Championship
with a 0-18 to 1-11 win against Cork in the final. Tipperary went all the way to the All Ireland minor final
after a 1-19 to 2-12 win against Kilkenny in the semi final, which was followed by a 3-14 to 2-11 win again against Cork in the final. In 2008, Tipperary reached the Munster final against Cork but were defeated by 0-19 to 0-18. They went on to reach the All Ireland Minor semi final where they lost to Kilkenny by 1-14 to 3-17. Ryan was succeeded as Minor hurling manager by Mark O'Leary
in 2009.
.
He will be joined by Tommy Dunne
as the new team coach, with Michael Gleeson of Tipperary county champions Thurles Sarsfields
completing the new Tipperary hurling management team.
Ryan's first game in charge was in January 2011 in the 2011 Waterford Crystal Cup
against WIT
where Tipperary were defeated by a scoreline of 2-17 to 1-19 in Clonmel
. His first league
game in charge took place on 12 February 2011 against Kilkenny
, in a 1-10 to 1-17 defeat at Semple Stadium
.
His first league win came in the third round on 5 March 2011 against Waterford
by 1-20 to 0-18 under the floodlights at Semple Stadium. On 29 May 2011 in Ryan's first Championship
game as manager, Tipperary defeated Cork by 3-22 to 0-23 at Semple Stadium.
On 10 July 2011, in his first Munster Final
as manager, Tipperary defeated Waterford
by 7-19 to 0-19 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh
. Ryan guided Tipperary past Dublin
in the semi-final to meet Kilkenny in the 2011 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final
where they were defeated by 2-17 to 1-16.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
manager
Manager (Gaelic games)
In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
and former player. He is the current manager of the Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
senior hurling team.
Regarded as one of his county's greatest hurling servants, Ryan enjoyed a successful playing career at club level with Clonoulty-Rossmore
Clonoulty-Rossmore GAA
Clonoulty-Rossmore GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Clonoulty and Rossmore, five miles from Cashel in County Tipperary, Ireland...
and at inter-county level with Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
. He was a forward on the latter team from 1988 until 2001 and has the distinction of being one of a handful of players to have won All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medals in three different decades. Ryan also collected five Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
titles, four National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
titles and two All-Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
awards.
In retirement from playing Ryan has become involved in team management. He served as manager of the Tipperary minor hurling team for two seasons, guiding the team to a second consecutive All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
title in 2007. Ryan was appointed manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team in November 2010.
Club
Ryan played his club hurling with the Clonoulty-RossmoreClonoulty-Rossmore GAA
Clonoulty-Rossmore GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Clonoulty and Rossmore, five miles from Cashel in County Tipperary, Ireland...
club and enjoyed much success in a career that spanned three decades.
After coming to prominence as an under-age player Ryan later established himself on the club's senior team. In 1989 Clonoulty-Rossmore qualified for the final of county senior championship
Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The Tipperary Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual club competition between the top Tipperary hurling clubs...
for the first time in 101 years. Reigning champions Loughmore-Castleiney
Loughmore-Castleiney GAA
Loughmore-Castleiney GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in County Tipperary, Ireland. The club draws its players and support from the small parish of the same name. The area comprises the villages of Loughmore and Castleiney and their surrounding hinterland.-History:Loughmore-Castleiney has...
provided the opposition on that occasion, however, history was on the side of Ryan and his club. A narrow 1-11 to 1-9 score line gave Clonoulty-Rossmore a coveted county title.
It was 1997 before Ryan lined out in his second county championship decider. Mullinahone
Mullinahone GAA
Mullinahone-CJ Kickhams GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association located in Mullinahone, south County Tipperary, Ireland, close to the border with County Kilkenny. The Mullinahone Club is named in honour of Charles J...
were the opposition on that occasion, however, Clonoulty provided too strong once again. A 0-17 to 1-12 score line gave Ryan a second county title to add to his collection.
In 1998 Clonoulty-Rossmore were give the opportunity to make history by retaining their championship title when the club qualified for the county final once again. Toomevara
Toomevara GAA
Toomevara GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Toomevara in County Tipperary, Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with hurling.-Honours:*Munster Senior Club Hurling Championships: 3** 1993, 2004, 2006...
were the opponents on that occasion and a close game developed. A 0-16 to 1-10 score line resulted in defeat for Ryan's side.
Minor and under-21
Ryan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the TipperaryTipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
minor hurling team in the mid-1980s. In 1986 his inter-county career nearly ended before it began in a Munster minor hurling championship
Munster Minor Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Minor Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for the youngest competitors in the province of Munster in Ireland...
game against Cork. Ryan, while lying on the ground, was struck in the face by a wild pull and received multiple stitches. He recovered from this set back to subsequently become a dual player
Dual player
Dual player or dual star is a term used in Gaelic games to describe a player who plays both Men's Gaelic football and Hurling or Ladies' Gaelic football and Camogie. The player doesn't necessarily have to play at the same standard in both sports...
of both hurling and Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
at under-21 level.
It was as a member of the Tipperary under-21 hurlng team that Ryan enjoyed his first major success on the inter-county scene. In 1989 he was captain of the team for the year and guided his team to an appearance in the provincial decider. Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
provided the opposition, however, the game turned into an absolute rout. A 5-16 to 1-6 score line gave Tipp the title and gave Ryan a coveted Munster
Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Under-21 Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 for players aged between 18 and 21 in the province of Munster in Ireland...
under-21 winners' medal. Tipperary later qualified for the All-Ireland final where Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
provided the opposition. The game turned into a close affair, however, Tipperary prevailed by 4-10 to 3-11. Not only did Ryan collect a coveted All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
under-21 winners' medal but he also had the honour, as captain, of collecting the cup on behalf of his team.
Senior
By this stage Ryan was already a key feature on the Tipperary senior panel. He made his debut in 1988 at a time when Tipperary's star was rising. The year began well for Ryan as he captured a National Hurling LeagueNational Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
winners' medal following a 3-15 to 2-9 defeat of Offaly. He later captured his first Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
winners' medal at senior level following a 2-19 to 1-13 victory over Cork. A subsequent defeat of Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
allowed Tipp to advance to the All-Ireland final where Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
provided the opposition. The westerners were the reigning champions, however, it was expected that Tipp might possibly shade the victory. Galway, however, used this to motivate themselves. Noel Lane
Noel Lane
Noel Lane is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with his local club Ballinderreen and with the Galway senior inter-county team from 1977 until 1990. Lane served as manager of the Galway senior inter-county team from 2000 until 2002...
scored the crucial goal for Galway while Nicky English
Nicky English
Nicholas J. English , better known as Nicky English, is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with his local club Lattin-Cullen and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1982 until 1996...
sent a late penalty over the bar for a point. A 1-15 to 0-14 score line resulted in victory for Galway and defeat for Ryan. In spite of this defeat Ryan finished off his debut season by receiving his first All-Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
award.
In 1989 Tipperary were still the best team in Munster and Ryan won his second provincial title in-a-row after a 0-26 to 2-8 trouncing of Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
. For the third time in as many years Tipp faced Galway in the All-Ireland series, however, on this occasion the men from the West were without their star player Tony Keady
Tony Keady
Tony Keady is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Killimordaly and was a member of the Galway senior inter-county team in the 1980s and 1990s.-Club:...
. The game turned out to be a tense and unsavory affair as Tipp finally triumphed over Galway. Antrim, the surprise winners of the other semi-final, provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland final
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1989
The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship of 1989 was the 103rd staging of Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition. Tipperary won the championship, beating Antrim 4-24 to 3-9 in the final at Croke Park, Dublin.-Calendar:-Overview:...
. It was an historic occasion as it was only the second appearance of an Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
team in the championship decider. Antrim’s relative inexperience robbed the final of any real element of contest and Tipp romped home to a 4-24 to 3-9 win, courtesy of a star performance by Nicky English. Because of this Tipp preserved their record of being the only team to win an All-Ireland title in every decade in GAA history. It was Ryan's first senior All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
winners' medal.
In 1990 Tipperary surrendered their Munster crown to Cork for the first time in four years. This defeat followed Babs Keating’s infamous remark about Cork that ‘donkeys don’t win derbies’.
Tipp returned in 1991
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1991
-Season:-Single game:-External links:*...
and defeated Cork in a thrilling Munster final replay giving Ryan his third provincial medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Tipp take on Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
for the first time in twenty years. A freak goal by Michael Cleary
Michael Cleary (hurler)
Michael Cleary is a former Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Nenagh Éire Óg and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team in the 1980s and 1990s.-Early life:...
in the first-half gave Tipp a lead which they never surrendered. A 1-16 to 0-15 victory allowed Ryan to capture his second All-Ireland winners' medal in three years.
1992 saw Tipp exit the championship at an early stage, however, the team bounced back for one last hurrah in 1993
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1993
The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship of 1993 was the 107th staging of Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition. Kilkenny won the championship, beating Galway 2-17 to 1-15 in the final at Croke Park, Dublin.-Participating counties:...
. That year Ryan added a fourth Munster winners' medal to his collection as Tipp trounced Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
by 3-27 to 2-12. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final saw Tipp renew their rivalry with Galway; however, on this occasion Galway took the spoils. This defeat brought the curtain down on Tipp’s great revival, however, Ryan did collect a second National League title in 1994.
The next few years saw Limerick and Clare dominate the provincial series of games. After defeat after a draw and a replay in the Munster final of 1996, Ryan lined out in the provincial decider again in 1997
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1997
The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship of 1997 was the 111th staging of Ireland's premier hurling competition...
. Clare provided the opposition on that occasion, however, it was an occasion to forget for Ryan as Tipp lost a close and exciting game by 1-18 to 0-18. The introduction of the new ‘back-door’ system resulted in both Clare and Tipperary meeting for the second time in the first all-Munster All-Ireland final. The game itself was one of the best of the decade. Clare were well on top for much of the game, however, Liam Cahill
Liam Cahill
Liam Cahill was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Ballingarry and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team in the 1990s and 2000s. Cahill transferred to play for Thurles in 2007, winning a County Senior Hurling medal with them in 2009...
and Eugene O'Neill
Eugene O'Neill (hurler)
Eugene O'Neill is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Cappawhite and played with the Tipperary senior inter-county team in the 1990s and 2000s.-References:Teams...
scored twice for Tipp in the last ten minutes. John Leahy
John Leahy (hurler)
John Leahy is a former Irish sportsperson. He played senior hurling with the Tipperary inter-county team from 1988 until 2003. He also represented Tipperary in all grades in Gaelic Football. He is regarded as a great hurler in Tipperary.-Early life & private life:John Leahy was born in...
missed a goal chance in the last minute while another Tipp point was controversially ruled wide. At the full-time whistle Clare had won by a single point – 0-20 to 2-13.
Ryan added a third National League medal to his collection in 1999; however, further success in the championship still eluded him with provincial final defeat again in 2000.
In 2001 Tipp made a third consecutive appearance in the National League final. After one victory and one defeat Ryan's side were successful again and defeated Clare by 1-19 to 0-17. It was Ryan's fourth winners’ medal in that competition. Later that year Tipp contested the Munster final. Tipperary defeated Limerick by 2-16 to 1-17 on that occasion giving Ryan a fifth Munster winners' medal. After a draw and a replay against Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
Ryan later lined out 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 a fifth All-Ireland final
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2001
-Ulster Senior Hurling Championship:-----------------All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship:Note: * = Provincial Champion, = Replay-------------------------Season:-Single game:-References:...
. Old rivals Galway provided the opposition on that occasion; however, two goals by Tipp’s Mark O'Leary
Mark O'Leary (hurler)
Mark O'Leary is an Irish sportsman. He plays hurling with his local club Kilruane McDonaghs and previously with the Tipperary senior inter-county team.-Club:O'Leary plays his club hurling with his native Kilruane McDonaghs.-Inter-county:...
gave the Munster men the threshold to withstand a Galway comeback. With nine minutes to go Ryan's side only led by one point, however, Tipperary outscored Galway by five to three in those closing minutes. At the final whistle Tipperary were the winners by 2-18 to 2-15. Not only did Ryan collect his third All-Ireland winners' medal but he also joined an exclusive club of players to have won championship titles in three separate decades. Following this victory Ryan retired from inter-county hurling.
Tipperary Minor Hurling Manager
In October 2006 Ryan took over from Liam SheedyLiam Sheedy
Liam Sheedy is an Irish former hurler and manager. He played for his local club Portroe and was a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1997 until 1999...
as manager of the Tipperary Minor hurling team. In his first year in charge Tipperary won the Munster Minor Hurling Championship
Munster Minor Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Minor Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for the youngest competitors in the province of Munster in Ireland...
with a 0-18 to 1-11 win against Cork in the final. Tipperary went all the way to the All Ireland minor final
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
after a 1-19 to 2-12 win against Kilkenny in the semi final, which was followed by a 3-14 to 2-11 win again against Cork in the final. In 2008, Tipperary reached the Munster final against Cork but were defeated by 0-19 to 0-18. They went on to reach the All Ireland Minor semi final where they lost to Kilkenny by 1-14 to 3-17. Ryan was succeeded as Minor hurling manager by Mark O'Leary
Mark O'Leary (hurler)
Mark O'Leary is an Irish sportsman. He plays hurling with his local club Kilruane McDonaghs and previously with the Tipperary senior inter-county team.-Club:O'Leary plays his club hurling with his native Kilruane McDonaghs.-Inter-county:...
in 2009.
Tipperary Senior Hurling Manager
On 9 November 2010, Ryan was appointed as the Tipperary Senior hurling manager on a two-year term, succeeding Liam SheedyLiam Sheedy
Liam Sheedy is an Irish former hurler and manager. He played for his local club Portroe and was a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1997 until 1999...
.
He will be joined by Tommy Dunne
Tommy Dunne
Tomás Dunne is an Irish hurling coach and former player. He is the current coach of the Tipperary senior hurling team....
as the new team coach, with Michael Gleeson of Tipperary county champions Thurles Sarsfields
Thurles Sarsfields GAA
Thurles Sarsfields is a Gaelic Athletic Association hurling club located in the town of Thurles in Tipperary, Ireland. The club was founded in 1881...
completing the new Tipperary hurling management team.
Ryan's first game in charge was in January 2011 in the 2011 Waterford Crystal Cup
Waterford Crystal Cup
The Waterford Crystal Cup is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 2006 for the top inter-county teams and third-level universities and institutes of technology teams in the province of Munster in Ireland.The series of games are...
against WIT
Waterford IT GAA
Waterford IT GAA club was set up in 1981. Its hurling team play in the Fitzgibbon Cup and Waterford Crystal Cup as well as Higher Education Leagues. Its football team play in the Sigerson Cup and McGrath Cup as well as Higher Education Leagues.-History:...
where Tipperary were defeated by a scoreline of 2-17 to 1-19 in Clonmel
Clonmel GAA Ground
Clonmel GAA Ground is a Gaelic Athletic Association stadium located in the town of Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland. It is the home ground of Gaelic football team Clonmel Commercials and hurling team St. Mary's...
. His first league
National Hurling League 2011
The 2011 National Hurling League was a Hurling competition run by the Gaelic Athletic Association between February and May 2011. It was contested by 35 county hurling teams—34 from Ireland , and London. Dublin won the Division 1 title after a 0-22 to 1-7 win against Kilkenny in the final at Croke...
game in charge took place on 12 February 2011 against Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
, in a 1-10 to 1-17 defeat at Semple Stadium
Semple Stadium
Semple Stadium, located in Thurles, North Tipperary, Ireland, is the home of hurling for Tipperary GAA and for the province of Munster. It is the second largest stadium in Ireland with a capacity of 53,500....
.
His first league win came in the third round on 5 March 2011 against Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
by 1-20 to 0-18 under the floodlights at Semple Stadium. On 29 May 2011 in Ryan's first Championship
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2011
The 2011 GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship was the 123rd staging of the All-Ireland championship since its establishment in 1887. The draw for the 2011 fixtures took place on 7 October 2010. The championship began on 14 May and ended on 4 September 2011...
game as manager, Tipperary defeated Cork by 3-22 to 0-23 at Semple Stadium.
On 10 July 2011, in his first Munster Final
2011 Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final
The 2011 Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final was a hurling match to be played on 10 July 2011 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork, between Tipperary and Waterford. The match pitted the 2010 All-Ireland Hurling Champions against the 2010 Munster Hurling Champions...
as manager, Tipperary defeated Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
by 7-19 to 0-19 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Páirc Uí Chaoimh is a Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in the Ballintemple area of Cork in Ireland, where major hurling and Gaelic football matches are played. It is the home of Cork GAA...
. Ryan guided Tipperary past Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
in the semi-final to meet Kilkenny in the 2011 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final
2011 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final
The 2011 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final took place in Croke Park, Dublin on Sunday, 4 September 2011. The final was contested by Kilkenny and defending champions, Tipperary....
where they were defeated by 2-17 to 1-16.
Player
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
:- Winner (3): 1989, 1991, 2001
- Runner-up (2): 1988, 1997
- Munster Senior Hurling ChampionshipMunster Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
:- Winner (5): 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 2001
- Runner-up (4): 1990, 1996, 1997, 2000
- National Hurling LeagueNational Hurling LeagueThe National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
:- Winner (4): 1988, 1994, 1999, 2001
- Runner-up (4): 1989, 1992, 1996, 2000
- All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Under-21 Hurling ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
:- Winner (1): 1989
- Munster Under-21 Hurling ChampionshipMunster Under-21 Hurling ChampionshipThe Munster GAA Hurling Under-21 Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 for players aged between 18 and 21 in the province of Munster in Ireland...
:- Winner (1): 1989
Tipperary
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
:- Runner-up (1): 2011
- Munster Senior Hurling ChampionshipMunster Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
:- Winner (1): 2011
- All-Ireland Minor Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Minor Hurling ChampionshipThe GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
:- Winner (1): 2007
- Munster Minor Hurling ChampionshipMunster Minor Hurling ChampionshipThe Munster GAA Hurling Minor Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for the youngest competitors in the province of Munster in Ireland...
:- Winner (1): 2007