Liam Ryan (Limerick hurler)

Fr. Liam Ryan (born 1936) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a left wing-forward for the Limerick senior team.^[1]

Ryan made his first appearance for the team during the 1955 championship and played intermittently for the team over the course of the next six seasons. During that time he won one Munster winners' medal.^[2] He was captain on that occasion and remains the youngest Munster final-winning captain.

At club level, Ryan is a three-time county championship winners' medalist with his local Cappamore club.

Playing career

Club

Ryan played his club hurling with the Cappamore club and enjoyed much success in a brief club championship career.

He spent four years with the Cappamore minor hurling team, winning two East Limerick championship titles, however, the club narrowly missed out on a county minor title on both occasions.

By this stage Ryan had already lined out for Cappamore's top team. He was barely sixteen when he won a county junior championship winners' medal in 1952. His inclusion on the team was as a result of a shortage of players.

Two years later in 1954 Cappamore had reached the final of the county senior championship. A victory over Western Gaels gave Ryan a coveted county senior championship winners' medal. He added two more senior medals to his collection in 1956 and 1959.

Inter-county

Ryan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Limerick minor hurling team in 1952. He enjoyed little success in this grade, losing back-to-back Munster finals in 1953 and 1954.

In 1955 Ryan made his debut as captain with the Limerick senior hurling team. After beating Waterford in the opening round of the provincial campaign, Limerick later went into the Munster final as underdogs against Clare. In a shock result Limerick defeated their nearest neighbours by 2-16 to 2-6. Ryan, in collecting the cup, became the youngest Munster final-winning captain. Limerick later played Wexford in the All-Ireland semi-final, however, they were comfortably beaten by 2-12 to 2-3.

Limerick reached the provincial decider again in 1956 with Cork providing the opposition. Ryan's side looked set to retain their title, however, a hat-trick of goals by Christy Ring swung the result in Cork's favour and Limerick were beaten by 5-5 to 3-5.

Ryan's studies for the priesthood impacted on his inter-county career and he missed the next three championship seasons with Limerick.

In 1960 Ryan was back with Limerick, however, as he had already been ordained a priest and was not allowed to play, he adopted the name 'Tom' Ryan and played anyhow. Tipperary easily won that match, bringing an end to Ryan's inter-county career.

Personal life

Ryan was born into a family that had a strong association with hurling. His father, Willie Ryan, was a hurler with the great Limerick team of the 1918-1921 era and won two All-Ireland winners' medals.

He was educated locally in Cappamore before later attending St. Flannan's College in Ennis where he excelled as a hurler. He won a Dr. Harty Cup winners' medal in 1952 and an inter-provincial colleges' title with Munster the following year.

Ryan, along with his brother Séamus, who also hurled with Limerick, subsequently studied for the priesthood at Maynooth.

References

Teams