Timmy Ryan
Encyclopedia
Timmy Ryan was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Ahane
and with the Limerick
senior inter-county team in the 1930s and 1940s. Ryan held the record for most Championship appearances (45) by a Limerick player until taken over by Mark Foley in 2009.
with the famous Ahane
club and enjoyed much success. He won a county junior hurling title in 1929 before later capturing his first senior county title in 1931. It was Ahane’s first senior title also. Between 1933 and 1939 Ryan helped the club to an unprecedented seven county titles in-a-row. Between 1942 and 1948 Ahane captured another seven consecutive county titles with Ryan playing a large role in these victories.
senior hurling team in 1930. At that stage Limerick were down the pecking order in terms of the top teams in the Munster Championship
. All this changed in 1933 when Limerick defeated the reigning provincial champions of Clare
, giving Ryan his first Munster title. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Limerick against Kilkenny
- the winners of the championship in 1932. The game was a low-scoring affair with ‘the Cats’ claiming the title on a score line of 1-7 to 0-6. In 1934 Limerick began their fightback by claiming the National Hurling League
title. Ryan, who was captain of the team for the next two seasons, later added a second Munster medal to his collection as the team trounced Waterford
. In their second consecutive All-Ireland final appearance Limerick faced Dublin
. The metropolitans proved to be no pushover as the game ended in a draw on a score line of 2-7 to 3-4. The replay saw Limerick capture the title by five points giving Ryan his first All-Ireland
medal. 1935 saw Limerick capture a second National League title in-a-row before retining their third consecutive Munster title. The All-Ireland final saw Limerick take on Kilkenny again. Limerick had had a fantastic run of 31 unbeaten games; however, Kilkenny put an end to this by defeating Ryan’s side by just a single point. In 1936 Ryan added a fourth National League medal to his collection before collecting a fourth consecutive Munster medal. For the third time in four years Kilkenny provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland final. Limerick, however, had the measure of ‘the Cats’ on the day and claimed victory on a score line of 5-6 to 1-5. It was Ryan’s second All-Ireland medal. In 1937 Ryan captured an amazing fifth National League medal; however, Limerick later lost their provincial crown. Three years later in 1940 Limerick regained their Munster title after an epic battle with Cork giving Ryan his fifth provincial title. In the subsequent All-Ireland final the two outstanding teams of the decade, Kilkenny and Limerick, did battle once again. ‘The Cats’ were not the force of old as a third All-Ireland medal went to Ryan following a 3-7 to 1-7 victory. It was Ryan’s last major title with the Limerick inter-county hurlers.
in the Railway Cup interprovincial competition. He won Railway Cup medals in 1934, 2935, 1937, 1938 and 1939.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson. He played hurling
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...
with his local club Ahane
Ahane GAA
Ahane GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the Ahane, Castleconnell and Montpelier areas of east County Limerick, Republic of Ireland. The club fields teams in both hurling and football and historically is regarded as one of the great clubs of Limerick. Ahane's greatest players...
and with 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 inter-county team in the 1930s and 1940s. Ryan held the record for most Championship appearances (45) by a Limerick player until taken over by Mark Foley in 2009.
Club
Ryan played his club hurlingHurling
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...
with the famous Ahane
Ahane GAA
Ahane GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the Ahane, Castleconnell and Montpelier areas of east County Limerick, Republic of Ireland. The club fields teams in both hurling and football and historically is regarded as one of the great clubs of Limerick. Ahane's greatest players...
club and enjoyed much success. He won a county junior hurling title in 1929 before later capturing his first senior county title in 1931. It was Ahane’s first senior title also. Between 1933 and 1939 Ryan helped the club to an unprecedented seven county titles in-a-row. Between 1942 and 1948 Ahane captured another seven consecutive county titles with Ryan playing a large role in these victories.
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...
senior hurling team in 1930. At that stage Limerick were down the pecking order in terms of the top teams in the Munster Championship
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....
. All this changed in 1933 when Limerick defeated the reigning provincial champions of 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....
, giving Ryan his first Munster title. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Limerick against Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
- the winners of the championship in 1932. The game was a low-scoring affair with ‘the Cats’ claiming the title on a score line of 1-7 to 0-6. In 1934 Limerick began their fightback by claiming the National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
title. Ryan, who was captain of the team for the next two seasons, later added a second Munster medal to his collection as the team trounced 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 their second consecutive All-Ireland final appearance Limerick faced Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
. The metropolitans proved to be no pushover as the game ended in a draw on a score line of 2-7 to 3-4. The replay saw Limerick capture the title by five points giving Ryan his first All-Ireland
All-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....
medal. 1935 saw Limerick capture a second National League title in-a-row before retining their third consecutive Munster title. The All-Ireland final saw Limerick take on Kilkenny again. Limerick had had a fantastic run of 31 unbeaten games; however, Kilkenny put an end to this by defeating Ryan’s side by just a single point. In 1936 Ryan added a fourth National League medal to his collection before collecting a fourth consecutive Munster medal. For the third time in four years Kilkenny provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland final. Limerick, however, had the measure of ‘the Cats’ on the day and claimed victory on a score line of 5-6 to 1-5. It was Ryan’s second All-Ireland medal. In 1937 Ryan captured an amazing fifth National League medal; however, Limerick later lost their provincial crown. Three years later in 1940 Limerick regained their Munster title after an epic battle with Cork giving Ryan his fifth provincial title. In the subsequent All-Ireland final the two outstanding teams of the decade, Kilkenny and Limerick, did battle once again. ‘The Cats’ were not the force of old as a third All-Ireland medal went to Ryan following a 3-7 to 1-7 victory. It was Ryan’s last major title with the Limerick inter-county hurlers.
Provincial
Ryan also regularly lined out with MunsterMunster 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:...
in the Railway Cup interprovincial competition. He won Railway Cup medals in 1934, 2935, 1937, 1938 and 1939.