Bobby Ryan (hurler)

{{Infobox Gaelic games player

| code= Hurling

| sport = Hurling

| image =

| name = Bobby Ryan

| irish = Roibeard Ó Riain

| fullname = Robert Ryan

| feet = 5

| inches = 10

| nickname =

| occupation = Farmer

| county = Tipperary

| province = Munster

| club =

| clposition = Half-back

| clubs = Borris–Ileigh

| clyears = 1978–1996

| clapps(points) =

| clcounty = 3

| clprovince= 1

| clallireland = 1

| counties = Tipperary

| icposition = Centre-back

| icyears = 1980–1993

| icapps(points) = 37 (1–05)

| icprovince = 5

| icallireland = 2

| nhl = 1

| allstars = 3

| clupdate =

| icupdate = 21:26, 27 March 2018

| birth_date=Robert Ryan
{{Birth date and age|df=yes|1961|10|23}}

| birth_place=Borrisoleigh,
County Tipperary, Ireland

}}

Robert Ryan (born 23 October 1961) is an Irish former hurler. At club level he played with Borris-Ileigh and at inter-county level was a member of the Tipperary senior hurling team. Ryan captained Tipperary to the All-Ireland SHC title in 1989.

Early life

Born in Borrisoleigh, County Tipperary, Ryan was raised in a family that had a longstanding association with hurling. His father, Tim Ryan, and his uncles, Ned Ryan and Pat Stakelum, won All-Ireland SHC medals with Tipperary between 1949 and 1951.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/tributes-pour-in-for-tipp-legend-stakelum-59539.html|title=Tributes pour in for Tipp legend Stakelum|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=5 April 2008|accessdate=27 March 2018|first=Jim|last=O'Sullivan}} Ryan attended Templemore CBS and was part of the school's senior hurling team that beat St Flannan's College to win the Dr Harty Cup title in 1978.{{cite news|url=http://www.the42.ie/harty-cup-templemore-martin-bourke-david-kennedy-3237797-Feb2017/|title='I'd be as happy as I was 39 years ago' - Tipp's Our Lady's chase Harty Cup history|publisher=The 42|date=16 February 2017|accessdate=27 March 2018}} He later claimed an All-Ireland Colleges SHC medal after a 2-11 to 1-04 win over St Peter's College in the final.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/noel-fogarty-our-ladys-templemore-harty-croke-cups-3309182-Mar2017/|title=From 1978 Harty Cup final goal poacher to All-Ireland hurling winning coach|publisher=The 42|date=27 March 2017|access-date=29 November 2023|first=|last=}}

Club career

Ryan began his career at juvenile and underage levels with the Borris-Ileigh club before eventually progressing to adult level in 1978 as a member of the club's junior team. He claimed his first silverware in 1981 when Borris-Ileigh beat Roscrea by 1-14 to 0-12 to claim their first Tipperary SHC title in nearly 30 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-30973469.html|title=Borris-Ileigh embraces a big day like no other Tipperary club|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=5 January 2020|access-date=29 November 2023|first=|last=}} Ryan collected a second winners' medal in 1983 when Borris-Ileigh reclaimed the title after a 0-17 to 1-11 defeat of Loughmore–Castleiney.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-30966068.html|title=Through triumph and tragedy, Borris battle on|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=23 November 2019|access-date=29 November 2023|first=|last=}}

After a three year hiatus, Borris-Ileigh were back as Tipperary SHC winners in 1986 with Ryan collecting a third winners' medal after the 0-14 to 0-07 win over Kilruane MacDonaghs.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-40989005.html|title=Talking Points: Is Tipp's north division set to become a bearpit again?|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=22 October 2022|access-date=29 November 2024|first=|last=}} He later added a Munster Club SHC medal to his collection after Borris-Ileigh beat Clarecastle to claim their inaugural provincial title.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/othersport/arid-30966065.html|title=Munster final has all the ingredients for battle royale|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=23 November 2019|access-date=29 November 2024|first=|last=}} Ryan was at left wing-back when Borris-Ileigh subsequently defeated Rathnure by 2-09 to 0-09 in the 1987 All-Ireland club final.{{cite web|url=https://www.tipperarylive.ie/news/sport/509451/we-definitely-didn-t-appreciate-the-extent-of-what-we-achieved-at-the-time-says-borris-1987-captain-mick-ryan.html|title="We definitely didn't appreciate the extent of what we achieved at the time" - says Borris' 1987 captain Mick Ryan|publisher=Tipperary Live|date=16 January 2020|access-date=29 November 2024|first=|last=}}

Inter-county career

Ryan began his inter-county career with Tipperary during a two-year tenure at minor level in 1978 and 1979. He immediately progressed to the under-21 team in 1980 and ended his debut season in that grade with an All-Ireland U21HC medal after a 2-09 to 0-14 win over Kilkenny in the final.{{cite web|url=https://hoganstand.com/tipperary/Profile|title=Tipperary profile|publisher=Hogan Stand|date=|access-date=9 February 2025|first=|last=}} It was the first of two consecutive winners' medals for Ryan, as he was also involved when Kilkenny were once again beaten in 1981.{{cite web|url=https://munster.gaa.ie/history/u20h_teams/|title=Under-21 hurling|publisher=Munster GAA website|date=|access-date=15 February 2025|first=|last=}}

Ryan joined the senior team during the 1980-81 National League campaign. Tipperary hurling was going through a barren period for the first few years of Ryan's senior career, however, he won an All-Star award in 1986.{{cite web|url=https://www.nenaghguardian.ie/2024/06/16/new-book-recalls-tipps-hurling-famine-in-a-different-light/|title=New Book recalls Tipp’s hurling famine in a different light|publisher=The Nenagh Guardian|date=16 June 2021|access-date=15 February 2025|first=|last=}} Ryan won his first Munster SHC medal after a 4-22 to 1-22 extra-time defeat of Cork in 1987.{{cite web|url=https://www.nenaghguardian.ie/2017/07/05/famine-ending-tip-to-killarney-to-be-remembered-30-years-on/|title=Famine ending trip to Killarney to be remembered 30 years on|publisher=The Nenagh Guardian|date=5 July 2017|access-date=15 February 2025|first=|last=}} He added a National Hurling League medal and a second consecutive Munster SHC medal to his collection the following year.{{cite web|url=https://munster.gaa.ie/history/senior-hurling/|title=Senior hurling|publisher=Munster GAA website|date=|access-date=15 February 2025|first=|last=}} Ryan later lined out at wing-back in the 1-15 to 0-14 defeat by Galway in the 1988 All-Ireland final.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/galway-tipperary-all-ireland-hurling-semi-final-2-2271403-Aug2015/|title=8 classic memories from Galway and Tipperary's senior hurling championship rivalry|publisher=The 42|date=14 August 2015|access-date=8 February 2025|first=|last=}} He ended the season with a second All-Star award.

Ryan was appointed team captain in 1989 and claimed a third successive Munster SHC medal that year. He later won his first All-Ireland SHC medal after captaining the team from centre-back to a 4-24 to 3-09 defeat of Antrim in the 1989 All-Ireland final.{{cite web|url=https://www.tipperarylive.ie/news/sport/426477/tipperary-s-1989-heroes-will-be-honoured-by-the-gpa-on-the-eve-of-this-year-s-all-ireland-senior-hurling-final.html|title=Tipperary's 1989 heroes will be honoured by the GPA on the eve of this year's All-Ireland senior hurling final|publisher=Tipperary Live|date=25 June 2019|access-date=8 February 2025|first=|last=}} Fox ended the season with his third All-Star award in four years.

After surrendering their titles in 1990, Ryan won a fourth Munster SHC medal in five seasons after a 4-19 to 4-15 defeat of Cork. He later claimed a second All-Ireland SHC medal after again lining out at centre-back in the 1-16 to 0-15 defeat of Kilkenny in the 1991 All-Ireland final.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/rivalry-seeking-renaissance/26038085.html|title=Rivalry seeking renaissance|publisher=Irish Independent|date=17 August 2002|access-date=8 February 2025|first=|last=}} His brother, Aidan, lined out at midfield in the victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/Tipperary/Article/Index/48520|title=Ryan family|publisher=Hogan Stand|date=30 August 1991|access-date=8 February 2025|first=|last=}} Ryan won a fifth and final Munster SHC medal in 1993. He retired from inter-county hurling following Tipperary's defeat by Galway in the 1993 All-Ireland semi-final.

Inter-provincial career

Ryan's performances at inter-county level resulted in his selection for Munster in four Railway Cup campaigns between 1984 and 1991.{{cite web|url=https://munster.gaa.ie/history/railway-cup-hurling/|title=Railway Cup Hurling|publisher=Munster GAA website|date=|access-date=12 March 2022|first=|last=}} He claimed his first winners' medal in 1984 after Munster's 1-18 to 2-09 win over Leinster, before winning a second Railway Cup title in 1985.