Limerick's Ryan calls time on hurling career

TJ Ryan has ended his career with the Limerick senior hurling squad, it emerged this evening.

The Garryspillane man has brought to an end a near 20-year involvement with the Shannonsiders that saw him win two Munster Championship medals and a National League title in 1997.

Ryan played hurling with the Limerick minor and Under-21 teams in the early 1990s without much success.

The 34-year-old, who shown his versatility by playing in various positions from defence through to attack, made his debut in 1994 in a Munster Championship tie against Cork.

Later in that campaign, Limerick went on to win the Munster final with Ryan collecting his first senior medal before succumbing to Offaly in the All-Ireland decider.

With five minutes left in the game Limerick led by five points but Offaly staged a late flourish to earn their first All-Ireland title since the 1980s.

Two years later, in 1996, Limerick won the Munster Championship for a second time in three years before later qualifying for an All-Ireland final meeting with Wexford but again Ryan was on the losing side.

There was some consolation in 1997 when Ryan won a National Hurling League medal. However, the following few years proved difficult for the Limerick hurlers as success eluded them.

Ryan confirmed his retirement from club and inter-county hurling after helping Garryspillane guarantee their place in next year's Limerick Senior Championship with a relegation play-off win over Tournafulla.