Gearóid Ryan

Gearóid Ryan (born 26 August 1988) is an Irish hurler who played as a midfielder for the Tipperary senior team.[1]

Gearóid Ryan
Personal information
Irish name Gearóid Ó Riain
Sport Hurling
Position Right Half Forward
Born (1988-08-26) 26 August 1988
Nenagh, Ireland
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Occupation Plumber
Club(s)
Years Club
2005-
 Templederry Kenyons
Inter-county(ies)
Years County Apps (scores)
2009-2016
 Tipperary 22 (2-24)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 5
All-Irelands 2
NHL 0
All Stars 0

Ryan made his first appearance for the team during the 2009 National League and has become a regular player over the last few seasons. During that time he has won two All-Ireland winners' medals and five Munster winners' medals.

At club level Ryan is a one-time county intermediate championship medalist with Templederry Kenyons.[2]

Playing career

Club

Ryan plays his club hurling with the Templederry Kenyons club and has enjoyed much success.

In 2008 the club claimed the North Tipperary title following a 0-17 to 1-10 defeat of Newport. It was Ryan's first silverware with the club. The Kenyons club later reached the county intermediate championship decider where Newport provided the opposition once again. The result was similar with Ryan adding a county intermediate title to his collection following a five-point victory.[3] Ryan finished off the year by collecting a North Tipperary under-21 title.[4]

Minor, intermediate and under-21

Ryan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Tipperary minor hurling team in 2005.[5] He enjoyed little success in his debut season, however, Tipperary reached the All-Ireland decider via the "back-door" in 2006. Three-in-a-row hopefuls Galway provided the opposition, however, Tipp powered to 2–18 to 2–7 victory.[6] It was Ryan's sole All-Ireland medal in that grade.

Ryan subsequently joined the Tipperary under-21 team. He won a Munster medal in this grade in his debut season following a controversial one-point defeat of Clare. Tipp later reached the All-Ireland, however, Ryan's side were defeated by Kilkenny.[7]

Ryan also enjoyed two unsuccessful seasons with the Tipperary intermediate hurling team.[8][9]

Senior

Ryan made his senior competitive debut for Tipperary in a National Hurling League game against Cork in 2009. He made his championship debut against the same opposition later that same season, however, he remained on the periphery of the team.

By 2010 Ryan made his way onto the Tipperary starting fifteen. After losing to Cork in the first round of the championship, Tipperray regrouped in the qualifiers and went on to reach a second successive All-Ireland decider. Kilkenny, a team chasing a fifth successive championship, provided the opposition and a great game was expected. Tipperary got off to a great start which was bolstered by an early Lar Corbett goal. He subsequently completed a hat-trick of goals and Tipperary had a fourth by Noel McGrath to deny Kilkenny's drive-for-five and secure a remarkable and convincing 4-17 to 1-18 victory.[10] It was Ryan's first All-Ireland winners' medal.

Tipperary returned as provincial kingpins once again in 2011. A 7-19 to 0-19 trouncing of Waterford in the southern decider gave Ryan his first Munster medal.[11] For the third successive year, Tipperary faced off against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final, however, on this occasion Kilkenny were slight underdogs going up against the new champions. Kilkenny started quickly and never surrendered the lead in the 2-17 to 1-16 victory.[12]

In spite of an indifferent National League campaign, Tipperary were regarded as potential All-Ireland champions once again. A 2-17 to 0-16 defeat of Waterford in the provincial decider gave Ryan a second successive Munster medal.[13] Tipperary later faced a humiliating 4-24 to 1-15 defeat by eventual champions Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final.[14]

On 23 November 2016, Ryan announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.[15] [16] Persistent injuries, including a double hip-surgery in 2013, had hampered his fitness. In a statement he said "In recent years injuries have limited my ability to compete for a first 15 place and that has been a major factor in my decision. It has been a great honour for me to represent my county at senior level. I will greatly miss being involved with the Tipperary senior hurling panel all of whom I admire greatly. I have many great memories and made many lifelong friendships during my time on the panel. I want to thank all the players sincerely and I also want to thank the managers and backroom teams who gave me the honour of representing my county and were always very supportive of me."[17][18][19]

Honours

Team
Templederry-Kenyons
Tipperary
Individual

References
  1. "Senior Hurling Panel". Tipperary GAA website. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  2. "My Club and i: Geroid Ryan". GAA.ie. 25 September 2014. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  3. "Hurling History". Templederry Kenyons GAA website. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  4. "Battling Templederry Shock Champions". Tipperary Star. 24 November 2008. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  5. "Minor team named". Hogan Stand website. 30 March 2005. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  6. "Tipp break Galway hearts in MHC final". RTÉ Sport. 3 September 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
  7. "RTÉ Sport: Kilkenny 2-13 Tipperary 0-15". RTÉ Sport. 15 September 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  8. "Tipp intermediate side named". Hogan Stand website. 5 June 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  9. "Tipp name IHC side". Hogan Stand website. 22 July 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  10. "RTÉ Sport: Tipperary 4-17 Kilkenny 1-18". RTÉ Sport. 5 September 2010. Archived from the original on 6 September 2010. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  11. "Tipp show appetite for destruction". Irish Times. 10 July 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  12. "RTÉ Sport: Kilkenny 2-17 Tipperary 1-16". RTÉ Sport. 4 September 2011. Archived from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  13. Clerkin, Malachy (16 July 2012). "Clinical Tipperary complete first task". Irish Times. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  14. Moran, Seán (30 August 2012). "Kilkenny trample over Tipp tradition". Irish Times. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  15. "Gearoid Ryan retires from Inter-County Hurling". Tipperary GAA. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  16. "Gearoid Ryan latest Tipperary retirement". RTE Sport. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  17. "Injury-plagued Tipperary star Gearoid Ryan announces his retirement from inter-county hurling". Irish Independent. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  18. "Injuries force Tipperary All-Ireland winner to retire". Irish Examiner. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  19. "Tipperary lose another double All-Ireland winner to retirement". The 42. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
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