Michael Ryan (hurler)

Michael Ryan (born 1970) is an Irish hurling manager and former player. He has been the manager of the Tipperary senior team since 2015.

Born in Upperchurch, County Tipperary, Ryan first excelled at hurling in his youth. He arrived on the inter-county scene as a dual player at the age of seventeen, before later joining the under-21 teams in both codes. After joining the senior football team during the 1989 championship, he made his senior hurling debut during the 1991 championship. Ryan went on to play a key role for the team, winning one All-Ireland medal, two Munster medals and one National Hurling League medal. He was an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.

As a member of the Munster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions, Ryan won two Railway Cup medals. At club level he was a one-time championship medallits in the intermediate grade with Upperchurch-Drombane.

Throughout his career Ryan made 24 championship appearances for Tipperary. He retired from inter-county hurling following the conclusion of the 2000 championship.

In retirement from playing Ryan became involved in team management and coaching. He served as a selector under Liam Sheedy on the Tipperary senior team between 2008 and 2010, before later being appointed assistant manager under Eamon O'Shea.^[1][2] In October 2014, it was confirmed that Ryan will succeed O'Shea as the Tipperary manager after the conclusion of the 2015 season.^[3]

Playing career

Club

Ryan enjoyed a lengthy club career as a dual player with Upperchurch-Drombane.

In 1998 he enjoyed the biggest success off his club career when he won a championship medal in the intermediate grade.

Inter-county

Minor

Ryan first played for Tipperary as a dual minor in 1987. After losing out to Cork in the provincial football championship, he later collected a Munster medal with the hurlers following a 2–11 to 1–9 defeat of the dame opposition. Tipperary later qualified for the All-Ireland final against Offaly with Deane lining out at right wing-back. The game was a close affair, with Tipperary eventually losing out by 2–8 to 0–12.^[4]

Under-21

Two years later in 1989, Ryan had joined the Tipperary under-21 teams in both codes. He won his first Munster medal with the hurlers following a remarkable 5–16 to 1–6 thrashing of Limerick. Tipperary later faced old rivals Offaly in the subsequent All-Ireland decider. A huge crowd at O'Moore Park of over 30,000 saw one of the great finals, as Tipperary narrowly triumphed by 4–12 to 3–11.^[5] It was a first All-Ireland medal for Ryan.

Ryan added a second Munster under-21 medal to his collection in 1990 as Tipperary defeated Limerick by 2–21 to 1–11. Kilkenny provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland final, however, Tipperary were defeated by 2–11 to 1–11.

Senior

Ryan made his senior championship debut for Tipperary on 9 June 1991 when he came on as a substitute in a 2–18 to 0–10 Munster semi-final defeat of Limerick. He started the subsequent Munster decider against Cork on the bench, but was once again introduced as a substitute. Although that game ended in a draw, Ryan impressed the selectors and was rewarded with a starting berth for the replay. A 4–19 to 4–15 victory gave Ryan his first Munster medal.^[6] The subsequent All-Ireland decider saw a first clash between Tipperary and Kilkenny in twenty years.

The opening thirty-five minutes saw both sides trade score-for-score, however, a controversial 20-metre free, miss-hit by Michael Cleary, landed in the net and gave Tipperary a lead which they never surrendered. The final score of 1–16 to 0–15 resulted in a Tipp victory and a first All-Ireland medal for Ryan.^[7]

After surrendering their titles in 1992, Tipperary bounced back the following year. A 3–27 to 2–12 trouncing of Clare gave Ryan a second Munster medal.^[8]

In 1994 Ryan added a National Hurling League medal to his collection following a 2–14 to 0–12 defeat of Galway.

Tipperary went into decline following this and suffered a number of championship defeats, however, the introduction of the new "back-door system" saw Ryan's side reach the All-Ireland final again in 1997. Clare provided the opposition in the first all-Munster All-Ireland decider. 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 Tipperary 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 by 0–20 to 2–13.

Ryan retired from inter-county hurling following Tipperary's exit from the 2000 championship.

Inter-provincial

Ryan also had the honour of lining out for Munster in the inter-provincial series of games. After defeat in 1993 and 1994, Ryan secured his first Railway Cup medal in 1995 following a narrow 0–13 to 1–9 defeat of Ulster.

Two years later in 1997 Ryan won a second Railway Cup medal as Leinster were defeated by 0–14 to 0–10.

Managerial career

Tipperary

In 2007 Liam Sheedy was appointed manager of the Tipperary senior team with Ryan serving as a selector. Over the next three seasons Tipperary secured one All-Ireland title, two Munster titles and a National League title. The management team stepped down in 2010.

After two years out of management, Ryan was appointed assistant manager under Eamon O'Shea in 2012. In October 2014, it was confirmed that Ryan will succeed Eamon O'Shea as the Tipperary manager after the conclusion of the 2015 season. In November 2015, it was confirmed that Ryan will be assisted by former Tipperary player's John Madden as a selector and Declan Fanning as a coach.^[9][10]

Honours

Player

Upperchurch-Drombane

• Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship (1): 1998

Tipperary

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (1): 1991
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship (2): 1991, 1993
• National Hurling League (1): 1993–94
• All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 1989
• Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship (2): 1989, 1990
• Munster Minor Hurling Championship (1): 1987

Munster

• Railway Cup (2): 1995, 1997

Selector

Tipperary

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2010
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2008, 2009
• National Hurling League (1): 2008

References