Ryan joined the Rapparees Starlights club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels as a dual player.
In due course, he joined the club's top adult teams in both codes, eventually coming to prominence after many years in the shadow of his brother Tom.
On 28 October 2017, Ryan lined out at midfield when Starlights faced St. Martin's in the Wexford Football Championship final.
[6] On 9 July 2014, Ryan won a Leinster Championship medal when he again lined out at full-back in Wexford's 1-20 to 0-18 defeat of Dublin in the final.
[9] On 8 July 2015, Ryan won a second successive Leinster Championship after lining out at full-back in Wexford's 4-17 to 1-09 defeat of Kilkenny in the final.
[10] He retained his position at full-back for the All-Ireland final against Limerick on 12 September 2015, however, he ended on the losing side for the second year in succession following a 0-26 to 1-07 defeat.