Pat Ryan (Cork hurler)

Patrick "Pat" Ryan (born 23 July 1976) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a midfielder for the Cork senior team.^[1]

Ryan made his first appearance for the team during the 1998 championship and was a regular member of the starting fifteen until his retirement after the 2002 championship. During that time he won one All-Ireland medal as a non-playing substitute, two Munster medals and one National Hurling League medal.

At club level Ryan was a two-time county club championship medalist with Sarsfield's.

In retirement from playing Ryan became involved in team management and coaching.

Playing career

Club

Ryan played his club hurling with Sarsfield's and enjoyed much success during a lengthy career.

In 2008 Sarsfield's reached the final of the club championship, with Ryan lining out in his second decider. Bride Rovers provided the opposition, however, a narrow 2-14 to 2-13 score line secured victory for Sarsfield's. Ryan, who played a key role at midfield picked up a coveted championship medal.^[2]

After surrendering their title in a shock defeat to Newtownshandrum in 2009, Sarsfield's were back in a third successive championship decider the following year. Glen Rovers provided the opposition, however, Sarsfield's secured a narrow 1-17 to 0-18 victory at the death. It was Ryan's second championship medal.^[3]

Inter-county

Ryan's slill at club championship level brought him to the attentions of the Cork inter-county selectors and he was soon picked for the county under-21 panel. In 1996 he won his first Munster minor winners' medal, albeit as a non-playing substitute, as Cork trounced Clare on a score line of 3-16 to 2-7.^[4] Cork, however, fell in the All-Ireland semi-final against Galway.

In 1997 Ryan added a second Munster under-21 medal to his collection, this time on the field of play, when Tipperary were defeated by a single point. It took a late goal by Timmy McCarthy to secure a 1-11 to 0-13 victory. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Galway. Cork were victorious on that occasion on a score line of 3-11 to 0-13 giving Ryan a coveted All-Ireland under-21 winners' medal in his last year on the team.^[5]

Ryan's move onto the Cork senior team was a natural progression. In 1998 he tasted success at senior level for the first time as Cork defeated Waterford to take the National Hurling League title.^[6] It was a welcome return to the big time for Cork; however, success in the championship was slow in coming.

Ryan lined out in both of Cork's championship games in 1998, however, in 1999 he returned to the substitutes' bench. That year Cork reached their first Munster final since 1992. Clare, the team that had won three of the last four provincial titles, together with two All-Ireland titles, provided the opposition and were very much the favourites going into the game. An exciting contest unfolded with Ryan coming on as a substitute. A score line of 1-15 to 0-14 gave Cork the victory and gave Ryan his first senior Munster title.^[7] Cork later defeated Offaly in one of the games of the year to set up an All-Ireland final meeting with arch-rivals Kilkenny. Ryan, however, remained on the subs' bench for that game. A wet and windy day meant that the classic game that everyone expected failed to materialise. Both sides shot seventeen wides over the course of the seventy minutes as a young and inexperienced Cork came back from five points down to win by 0-13 to 0-12. It was Cork’s first senior All-Ireland title since 1990 and the victory gave Ryan an All-Ireland winners' medal as a non-playing substitute.^[8]

In 2000 Cork were the favourites to retain their All-Ireland title. The team got off to a good start by retaining their Munster title, however, Tipperary put up a good fight. Ryan collected a second provincial winners' medal as Cork won by 0-23 to 3-12. Cork’s next game was an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Offaly. While Cork were expected to win the game without breaking a sweat Offaly caught Cryan's side on the hop and recorded a 0-19 to 0-15 win.

While the Cork hurling team should have gone from strength to strength as a result of a solid foundation at minor and under-21 levels the opposite happened. Embarrassing defeats in 2001 and 2002 saw the Cork hurling team reach rock bottom and call a players' strike just before Christmas in 2002. When the strike was resolved a new team emerged in 2003, however, Ryan was not included bringing his inter-county involvement to an end.

Honours

As a player

North Monastery

• All-Ireland Senior Colleges' Hurling Championship (1): 1994
• Munster Senior Colleges' Hurling Championship (1): 1994

Sarsfield's

• Cork Senior Club Hurling Championship (2): 2008, 2010

Cork

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (1): 1999 (sub)
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship (2): 1999, 2000
• National Hurling League (1): 1998
• Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 1993
• Munster Minor Hurling Championship (1): 1990

As a manager

Sarsfield's

• Cork Senior Club Hurling Championship (1): 2012

References