After joining the Cork senior team in 1997, Ryan won an All-Ireland medal in 1999, as well as Munster and National League titles.
Having played at every grade, by 1994 he was a forward on the college's senior team that defeated Midleton CBS by 1–09 to 0–04 in the Harty Cup final.
[7] Ryan made his first appearance for the Cork under-21 team on 18 July 1996, replacing John Browne for the final 12 minutes of a Munster Championship semi-final defeat of Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
[citation needed] Ryan became a regular member of the starting fifteen for the 1997 championship, first at right wing-back before later taking a midfield position.
[citation needed] On 20 November 1997, Ryan made his senior debut for Cork in a 2–15 to 0–15 defeat of Waterford in the Oireachtas Cup before becoming a regular member of the team during the 1998 National League.
After making a number of appearances in Cork's unsuccessful National League campaign in 1999, Ryan was dropped from the starting fifteen for the Munster Championship.
[12][13] In 2015, Ryan ruled himself out as a candidate to succeed Jimmy Barry-Murphy as manager of the Cork senior hurling team.
[16] Following the departure of Kingston as manager at the end of the 2017 season, Ryan ruled himself out of contention for the job stating: "I will not be allowing my name to go forward for consideration.
"[17] Ryan was also named as a possible successor to Derek McGrath as manager of the Waterford senior hurling team but also ruled himself out of the running.