Liam Ryan (Wexford hurler)

Liam Ryan

Personal information
Irish name	Liam Ó Riain
Sport	Hurling
Position	Full-back
Born	(1995-08-16) 16 August 1995 (age 28) Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Occupation	Postman
Club(s)
Years	Club
	Rapparees Starlights
Club titles
	Football	Hurling
Wexford titles	2	1
Inter-county(ies)*
Years	County	Apps (scores)
2013–present	Wexford	26 (0-05)
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles	1
All-Irelands	0
NHL	0
All Stars	0
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 22:42, 15 July 2019 2017.

Liam Ryan (born 16 August 1995) is an Irish hurler who plays for Wexford Senior Championship club Rapparees and at inter-county level with Wexford senior hurling team. ^[1] He usually lines out as a full-back.

Playing career

Rapparees Starlights

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. He scored a point from play and "dominated" the game for the most part before collecting a winners' medal following the 0-17 to 1-08 victory. ^[2]

Wexford

Minor and under-21

Ryan first played for Wexford as a member of the minor team during the 2012 Leinster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 21 April 2012 in a 2-13 to 3-08 defeat of Offaly. ^[3] On 8 July 2012, Ryan lined out at right wing-back when Wexford suffered a 2-14 to 1-15 defeat by Dublin in the Leinster final. ^[4]

Ryan was once again eligible for the minor grade in 2013 but was switched to the full-back position. He made his last appearance for the team on 23 June 2013 in a 1-14 to 0-13 defeat by Laois in the Leinster semi-final. ^[5]

Ryan was drafted onto the Wexford under-21 team in advance of the 2014 Leinster Championship. He made his debut in the grade on 4 June 2014 when he lined out at full-back in Wexford's 2-14 to 0-10 defeat of Kilkenny. ^[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. ^[7] On 13 September 2014, he was again selected at full-back for the All-Ireland final against Clare, but ended on the losing side following a 2-20 to 3-11 defeat. ^[8] Ryan ended the season by being named in the full-back position on the Team of the Year. ^[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. ^[11] Ryan was later included at full-back on the Team of the Year. ^[12]

Ryan was again first-choice full-back for the Wexford under-21 team for the 2016 Leinster Championship. He played his last game in the grade on 1 June 2016 in a 2-12 to 1-08 defeat by Dublin. ^[13]

Senior

Ryan made his first appearance for the Wexford senior team on 23 February 2014. After starting the game on the bench he was introduced as a 44th-minute substitute in Wexford's 2-19 to 2-13 defeat of Offaly in the National League. ^[14] Ryan made his Leinster Championship debut on 1 June 2014 when he was selected at right corner-back for Wexford's 5-19 to 0-21 defeat of Antrim. ^[15]

On 2 July 2017, Ryan was selected at full-back when Wexford qualified for their first Leinster final in nine years. He ended the game on the losing side following the 0-29 to 1-17 defeat by Galway. ^[16]

On 20 January 2018, Ryan was selected at full-back when Wexford faced Kilkenny in the Walsh Cup final. He was substituted in favour of Jack Guiney just before the end of the 1-24 apiece draw. Wexford won the subsequent free-taking shoot-out, with Ryan claiming his first silverware at senior level with Wexford. ^[17] He ended the season by receiving an All-Star nomination. ^[18]

Wexford reached a second Leinster final in three years on 30 June 2019. Ryan was selected in his usual position at full-back and collected a winners' medal following the 1-23 to 0-23 defeat of Kilkenny. ^[19]

Career statistics

As of match played 30 June 2019.

Team	Year	National League			Leinster		All-Ireland		Total
		Division	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score
Wexford	2014	Division 1B	4	0-00	2	0-01	4	0-00	10	0-01
	2015		5	0-00	2	0-00	1	0-00	8	0-00
	2016		6	0-00	1	0-00	1	0-01	8	0-01
	2017		7	1-00	3	0-01	1	0-01	11	1-02
	2018	Division 1A	7	0-01	4	0-00	2	0-01	13	0-02
	2019		4	0-01	5	0-00	0	0-00	9	0-01
Career total			33	1-02	17	0-02	9	0-03	58	1-07

Honours

Starlights

• Wexford Senior Football Championship (1): 2017

Wexford

• Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2019
• Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship (2): 2014, 2015

Individual

• All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Team of the Year (2): 2014, 2015

References

1. "Getting to know the 'unknown' hurlers of Wexford". Irish Examiner. 14 April 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
2. Aherne, Alan (4 November 2017). "Slick Starlights mark centenary in style". New Ross Standard. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
3. Reilly, Terry (23 April 2012). "Late Wexford surge sees off stern Offaly challenge". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
4. "Leinster MHC final: Dublin retain provincial crown". Hogan Stand. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
5. O'Toole, Fintan (23 June 2013). "GAA minor wrap: Laois shock Wexford, Tyrone beat Down to progress to final". The 42. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
6. Knox, John (5 June 2014). "Late blast underlines Wexford superiority". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
7. O'Toole, Fintan (9 July 2014). "Superb McDonald goal helps Wexford claim Leinster U21 hurling title against Dublin". The 42. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
8. Cahill, Jackie (14 September 2014). "Kelly on fire as Clare young guns shoot down Wexford for a third title in a row". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
9. O'Rourke, Steve (6 October 2014). "Seven Clare hurlers on the U21 team of the year". The 42. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
10. "Leinster U21 HC final: Magical Model maul Cats for three-in-a-row". Hogan Stand. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
11. Cormican, Eoghan (12 December 2015). "Limerick ease past Wexford to claim U21 hurling title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
12. Hannon, Shane (23 September 2015). "The names are in - here are the Bord Gáis Energy Team of the Year nominees". The 42. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
13. Bailey, Ryan (1 June 2016). "Dublin produce sparkling performance to end Wexford's bid for four-in-a-row". The 42. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
14. Furlong, Brendan (24 February 2014). "Dunne delight as youthful Wexford stage storming finish". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
15. Foley, Cliona (2 June 2014). "Antrim left on the canvas by Wexford's big sucker-punches". Irish Independent. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
16. O'Brien, Kevin (2 July 2017). "Conor Cooney masterclass leads Galway past Wexford to their first Leinster title since 2012". The 42. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
17. Aherne, Alan (27 January 2018). "Fanning hits winner in historic shoot-out". Gorey Guardian. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
18. "Limerick dominate PwC Hurling All-Star nominations". GAA website. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
19. O'Brien, Kevin (30 June 2019). "Wexford land first Leinster title in 15 years with thrilling victory over Kilkenny". The 42. Retrieved 1 July 2019.