Gearoid Ryan retires from inter-county hurling

Templederry Kenyon's Gearoid Ryan has announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.

In a statement, he said: “Having enjoyed eight years on the Tipperary senior hurling panel since I first joined it in 2009, I have decided to announce my retirement. In recent years injuries have limited my ability to compete for a first 15 place and that has been a major factor in my decision. It has been a great honour for me to represent my county at senior level. 

I will greatly miss being involved with the Tipperary senior hurling panel all of whom I admire greatly.  I have many great memories and made many lifelong friendships during my time on the panel.  I want to thank all the players sincerely and I also want to thank the managers and backroom teams who gave me the honour of representing my county and were always very supportive of me.

I am very grateful to Tipperary County Board and Tipperary Supporters Club for their unstinting support of the team. My club, Templederry Kenyons, have always given me tremendous support and I thank them sincerely for that.  

My eternal gratitude is due to Laura, my parents and family for their great loyalty and encouragement at all times. 

Finally, I wish Tipperary well for the future, I have no doubt this team will go on to achieve many more great successes,” he concluded

Tipperary County Board Chairman, Michael Bourke acknowledged the contribution of Gearoid commenting, 'Gearoid Ryan made an immediate impact for Tipperary since he first burst onto the scene. He was a tremendous worker and was able to pick off vital scores when needed most. He will always be remembered for his stand out performance against Galway in the All-Ireland Quarter-Final in 2010 which proved a catalyst in Tipperary's All-Ireland success of that year. I have no doubt had Gearoid not been inflicted with injury as he was, he would have accrued more honours with Tipperary. I thank him for his great contribution to Tipperary and I wish him every success now and for the future'

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Gearoid was born on August 26th, 1988. Gearoid plays for the Templederry Kenyons club and made his National Hurling League debut against Cork in February 2009, scoring a point from play. Gearoid won an All-Ireland Minor Hurling medal with Tipperary in 2006, lining out at midfield in the final. Gearoid was also on the Tipperary Intermediate Hurling panel in 2007 and 2008 Gearoid was part of the Tipperary Under 21 Hurling panel in 2007, 2008 and 2009, winning a Munster medal in 2008. Gearoid made his Championship debut as a substitute against Cork in the 2009 Munster Senior Hurling Championship. Gearoid has won 5 Munster Senior Hurling medals.

Gearoid Ryan won the man of the match award in the 2010 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final against Galway, scoring 1-2 from play. Gearoid played wing-forward on the Tipperary team which captured the 2010 All-Ireland Senior Hurling title, scoring a point in the final before winning his second All-Ireland Senior Hurling medal as part of the 2016 panel. Gearoid was nominated for an All-Star award in 2010 in the half-forward line and in 2011 at midfield. Gearoid lined out at wing-forward for the Munster hurlers in the 2012 Inter-Provincial competition.