Liam Ryan (Limerick hurler)
Encyclopedia
Fr. Liam Ryan is an Irish
retired hurler
who played as a left wing-forward for the Limerick
senior team.
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. 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.
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.
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 played, he adopted the name 'Tom' Ryan and played anyhow. Tipperary
easily won that match, bringing an end to Ryan's inter-county career.
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
.
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...
retired hurler
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...
who played as a left wing-forward for the 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...
senior team.
Ryan made his first appearance for the team during the 1955 championship
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1955
----In the Quarter-Final, Westmeath beat Laois at Tullamore on 22 May.---------------------Munster Senior Hurling Championship:-----------------All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship:-----Miscellaneous:...
and played intermittently for the team over the course of the next six seasons. During that time he won one 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. He was captain on that occasion and remains the youngest Munster final-winning captain.
At club level, Ryan is a three-time county championship
Limerick Senior Hurling Championship
The Limerick Senior Hurling Championship is an annual club competition between the top Limerick Clubs. The winners of the Limerick Championship qualify to represent their county in the Munster Club Championship and in turn, go on to the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship...
winners' medalist with his local Cappamore club.
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
Western Gaels GAA
Western Gaels is a Gaelic Athletic Association club concentrating on Hurling in west County Sligo, Republic of Ireland. The club won its first Sligo Senior Hurling Championship in 2010....
gave Ryan a coveted county senior championship
Limerick Senior Hurling Championship
The Limerick Senior Hurling Championship is an annual club competition between the top Limerick Clubs. The winners of the Limerick Championship qualify to represent their county in the Munster Club Championship and in turn, go on to the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling 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 LimerickLimerick 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...
minor hurling team in 1952. He enjoyed little success in this grade, losing back-to-back Munster
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...
finals in 1953 and 1954.
In 1955 Ryan made his debut as captain with the Limerick senior hurling team. After beating 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...
in the opening round of the provincial campaign, Limerick later went into the Munster final as underdogs against 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....
. 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
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...
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
Christy Ring
Nicholas Christopher Michael Ring , better known as Christy Ring, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Glen Rovers club from 1941 until 1967 and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1963. Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in...
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 played, he adopted the name 'Tom' Ryan and played anyhow. 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...
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-IrelandAll-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' medals.
He was educated locally in Cappamore before later attending St. Flannan's College
St. Flannan's College
Saint Flannan's College is an Irish secondary school located in Ennis, County Clare. Formerly an all-boys boarding school, the first girls class was entered in 2002 and in 2005 the boarding school was closed. In 2003 an extension which added over 20 new rooms to the college was completed...
in Ennis
Ennis
Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
where he excelled as a hurler. He won a Dr. Harty Cup
Dr. Harty Cup
The Dr. Harty Cup is a hurling competition for schools in the province of Munster in Ireland. The cup is presented to the winners of the Munster Colleges Senior "A" Hurling Championship. Players have to be under the age of 19 to compete. The winning team represents Munster in the Dr. Croke Cup...
winners' medal in 1952 and an inter-provincial colleges' title with Munster
Munster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
the following year.
Ryan, along with his brother Séamus, who also hurled with Limerick, subsequently studied for the priesthood at Maynooth
Maynooth
Maynooth is a town in north County Kildare, Ireland. It is home to a branch of the National University of Ireland, a Papal University and Ireland's main Roman Catholic seminary, St. Patrick's College...
.