Kevin Ryan

Kevin Ryan (born 1965) is an Irish former hurler who played in various positions for the Waterford senior hurling team.

Ryan made his first appearance for the team during the 1980–81 National League and became a regular member of the starting fifteen over the next decade.

During that time he played a part in securing Waterford's promotion from Division 3 to the top flight of the National League.

Ryan ended up as Munster runner-up on two occasions.

At club level Ryan is a multiple county club championship medalist with Mount Sion.

In retirement from playing Ryan became involved in team management.

He first coached club sides Mount Sion and Oulart the Ballagh, before later serving as a selector and manager with the Waterford and Carlow senior hurling teams.

He is the current manager of the Offaly senior hurling team.

Ryan had a successful career with Mount Sion GAA club.

Ryan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with the Waterford senior hurling team, making his debut in a National League game against Cork in late 1980.

In 1981 he won his first county championship medal following a 4–13 to 1–14 defeat of Dunhill.

Mount Sion later claimed the provincial club title, however, Ryan played no part in that game.

The All-Ireland final defeat saw Mount Sion play Kilkenny and Leinster champions James Stephens.

Ryan came on as a substitute, however, James Stephens won the game by 3–13 to 3–8.

Two years later in 1982 Ryan lined out in his first Munster decider.

Cork provided the opposition on that occasion as a rout unfolded.

A 5–31 to 3–6 defeat was one of the biggest in the history of the provincial championship.

After surrendering their club title the following year, Ryan added a second county championship medal to his collection in 1983.

Ryan's side reached the Munster final for a second successive year in 1983.

Cork once again provided the opposition and, once again, a rout developed.

The margin of victory was smaller for Cork, however, they still defeated Ryan's side by 3–22 to 0–12.

After a few disappointing seasons Waterford found themselves in Division 3 of the National League at the start of the 1985–86 season.

Ryan was a key member of the team that year as "the Déise" fought their way to promotion and a place in Division 2.

Another successful league campaign saw Ryan's side rejoin the top table the following year.

A 0–16 to 0–10 defeat of Lismore in the 1986 county decider gave Ryan a third championship medal.

Two years later he won his fourth medal following a 2–15 to 3–8 defeat of Ballygunner.

By 1989 Ryan had been relegated to the substitutes.

He made one appearance in the championship that year but was unused in Waterford's defeat by Tipperary in the Munster decider.

Ryan's first taste of hurling management was developed early when he was trainer and a selector of the Mount Sion under-21 team on which he was still a player.

By the late nineties he had taken charge of the Mount Sion minor team, winning two county championships in three years before graduating to the under 21 team again.

After an absence of six years and the loss of two county finals in the meantime, Ryan won a fifth and final championship medal in 1994.

In 1999 Ryan was manager of the Mount Sion senior hurling team.

As reigning champions they surrendered their title to Ballygunner, however, Ryan's Mount Sion side were back the following year to exact revenge.

A 1–20 to 0–9 defeat of Ballygunner gave the club the county championship title for the 31st time.

The club later reached the provincial decider but lost out to Sixmilebridge.

In 2003 Ryan first became involved with an inter-county team when he was appointed as a Waterford selector under Justin McCarthy.

In his debut year as a selector Waterford reached the provincial showpiece for a third successive year in 2004.

In the Munster final, Waterford defeated Cork for the first time in forty-five years to take the title by 3–16 to 1–21.

Ryan had taken charge of Wexford side Oulart the Ballagh by 2007.

He guided the club to their sixth county championship that year following a 4–14 to 2–6 trouncing of Buffer's Alley.