Aidan Ryan

Aidan Ryan (born 30 January 1965 ) is an Irish retired hurler. His league and championship career with the Tipperary senior team spanned fifteen seasons from 1984 to 1999.

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. Ryan attended Templemore CBS and was part of the school's senior hurling team that played in the Dr Harty Cup competition.

Club career

Ryan began his career at juvenile and underage levels with the Borris-Ileigh club before eventually progressing to adult level. He collected his first silverware in 1983 when Borris-Ileigh beat Loughmore–Castleiney by 0–17 to 1–11 to claim the Tipperary SHC title.

After a three-year hiatus, Borris-Ileigh were back as Tipperary SHC winners in 1986 with Ryan collecting a second winners' medal after the 0–14 to 0–07 win over Kilruane MacDonaghs. He later added a Munster Club SHC medal to his collection after Borris-Ileigh beat Clarecastle to claim their inaugural provincial title. Ryan was at corner-forward when Borris-Ileigh subsequently defeated Rathnure by 2–09 to 0–09 in the 1987 All-Ireland club final.

Inter-county career

Ryan began his inter-county career with Tipperary during a two-year tenure at minor level. He won a Munster MHC in his first season with the team in 1982, before later coming on as a substitute for Noel Sheehy in the 2–07 to 0–04 defeat of Galway in the 1982 All-Ireland minor final.

Ryan immediately progressed to the under-21 team and spent three years lining out in that grade. He won a Munster U21HC title in 1984, however, Tipperary were later beaten by Kilkenny in the 1984 All-Ireland under-21 final. Ryan claimed a second successive Munster U21HC medal in 1985, before winning an All-Ireland U21HC medal following a 1–10 to 2–06 win over Kilkenny.

Ryan joined the senior team in 1984. He won his first Munster SHC medal after a 4–22 to 1-22 extra-time defeat of Cork three years later in 1987. He ended the year by being presented with an All-Star award. Ryan added a National Hurling League medal and a second consecutive Munster SHC medal to his collection the following year. He later lined out at full-forward in the 1–15 to 0–14 defeat by Galway in the 1988 All-Ireland final. Ryan claimed a third successive Munster SHC medal in 1989. He later won his first All-Ireland SHC medal after coming on a substitute in the 4–24 to 3–09 defeat of Antrim in the 1989 All-Ireland final. His brother, Bobby Ryan, captained the team.

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 scoring two points in the 1–16 to 0–15 defeat of Kilkenny in the 1991 All-Ireland final. Ryan won a fifth and final Munster SHC medal in 1993. He added a second National Hurling League title to his collection in 1994.

Ryan continued to line out for Tipperary and came on as a substitute in their 0–20 to 2–13 defeat by Clare in the 1997 All-Ireland final. He was part of Tipperary's National Hurling League-winning team in 1999, but played no part in the final. Ryan brought his inter-county career to an end shortly after.

Honours

Borris–Ileigh All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship: 1987 Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship: 1986 Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship: 1983, 1986

Tipperary All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship: 1989, 1991 Munster Senior Hurling Championship: 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993 National Hurling League: 1987-88, 1993-94, 1999 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship: 1985 Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship: 1984, 1985 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship: 1982 Munster Minor Hurling Championship: 1982

Munster Railway Cup: 1992

Awards All Stars Awards (1): 1987