His league and championship career with the Tipperary senior team spanned fifteen seasons from 1984 to 1999.
[2] Born in Borrisoleigh, County Tipperary, Ryan was raised in a strong hurling family.
[3] Ryan enjoyed his first hurling successes with Templemore CBS while simultaneously appearing for the Borris–Ileigh club at juvenile and underage levels.
Ryan made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he was selected for the Tipperary minor team.
By this stage Ryan had also joined the Tipperary senior team, making his debut during the 1984-85 league.