He played hurling with his local club Carrick Davins and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1968 until 1975.
That year he collected a second Munster title before later winning an All-Ireland medal following a victory over Dublin in the championship decider.
He won his first senior Munster title in 1968 as Tipp trounced Cork in the provincial decider.
Three years later in 1971 Ryan captured a second senior Munster title as Tipp had a one-point win over Limerick courtesy of a last-minute free by Michael 'Babs' Keating.
Tipp later played Kilkenny in the first All-Ireland final to be broadcast in colour by Raidió Teilifís Éireann.