[2] He made the decision to concentrate solely on Gaelic football in 2004, which dealt a blow to the then hurling manager Humphrey Kelleher.
[3] In 2009, he made the decision to switch back to hurling and join Anthony Daly's team after giving it much consideration.
Ryan is a graduate of Business Studies (2001) in Dublin City University and is a teacher by profession.
2006 continued to be a good year for Ryan as Seán Boylan named him on the Compromise Rules squad to play Australia in the first test at Pearse Stadium on 29 October 2006.
He then won his first All Star award in 2008, when he was named in midfield alongside Enda McGinley from Tyrone.