Beginnings

Ryan joined the Limerick senior team in 1930, however, it would be another three years before the team emerged as a major force after a decade in the doldrums. Ryan lined out in his first Munster decider that year, as Limerick faced Waterford. With eight minutes left in the game, some spectators invaded the pitch and the match was abandoned. Since Limerick were winning by 3–7 to 1–2, the Munster Council declared them the champions and Ryan collected his first Munster medal.^[2] The subsequent All-Ireland final on 3 September 1933, saw a record crowd of 45,176 travel to Croke Park to see Limerick face Kilkenny. After being level at the interval, the game remained close in the second half until a solo-run goal by Johnny Dunne sealed a 1–7 to 0–6 victory for Kilkenny.

Dominance

A successful league campaign throughout 1933–34 saw Limerick reach the decider against Dublin. In spite of home advantage, Limerick had to battle hard for a 3–6 to 3–3 victory. It was Ryan's first league medal. The subsequent provincial championship saw Limerick reach the decider, where they played Waterford for the second year in-a-row. The result was much the same, with Ryan collecting a second Munster medal following a 4–8 to 2–5 victory. The All-Ireland final on 2 September 1934, was a special occasion as it was the golden jubilee final of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Dublin were the opponents and a close game developed. After leading by a point at the interval, Limerick went five clear with time running out. Dublin fought their way back to secure a remarkable draw. The replay on 30 September turned out to be an even closer affair, with both sides level with two minutes to go. Points from Mick Mackey and Jackie O'Connell and a remarkable four goals from Dave Clohessy secured a 5–2 to 2–6 victory for Limerick. The win gave Ryan an All-Ireland medal, while he also had the honour of collecting the Liam MacCarthy Cup as captain.

Ryan added a second league medal to his collection as captain in 1935, as Limerick retained their title in a straightforward league format. Limerick dominated the provincial series of games once again, and lined out in the decider against Tipperary. He collected a third Munster medal following a 5–5 to 1–4 victory. Kilkenny were Limerick's opponents in the subsequent All-Ireland final on 1 September 1935, and, once again, the game was a close affair. Limerick were the red-hot favourites as a record crowd of over 46,000 turned up to watch a hurling classic. In spite of rain falling throughout the entire game both sides served up a great game. At the beginning of the second-half Lory Meagher sent over a huge point from midfield giving Kilkenny a lead which they would not surrender. The game ended in controversial circumstances for Mackey when Limerick were awarded a close-in free to level the game. Jack Keane issued an instruction from the sideline that Ryan was to take the free and put the sliotar over the bar for the equalising point. As he lined up to take it, Mick Mackey pushed him aside and took the free himself. The shot dropped short and into the waiting hands of the Kilkenny goalkeeper and was cleared. The game ended shortly after with Kilkenny triumphing by 2–5 to 2–4.

Limerick began 1936 by retaining their league title, having won seven of their games and drawing one. It was Ryan's third league medal. The team later embarked on a tour of the United States where they defeated a New York team made up of Irish expatriates. As a result of the tour Limerick were awarded a bye into the Munster final. Tipperary provided the opposition in the provincial final, however, a 5–3 haul from an injured Mick Mackey secured an 8–6 to 4–5 victory and a fourth successive Munster medal for Ryan. For the third time in four years the lure of a Kilkenny-Limerick clash brought a record crowd of over 50,000 to Croke Park for the All-Ireland decider on 6 September 1936. The first half produced a game that lived up to the previous clashes, and Limerick had a two-point advantage at half-time. Jackie Power scored two first-half goals, while a solo-run goal by Mackey in the second-half helped Limerick to a 5–6 to 1–5 victory. Ryan had won a second All-Ireland medal.

Final success and decline

In 1937, Ryan captured another league title, his fourth overall. Limerick's bid for a record-equalling fifth successive Munster crown came to an end in the provincial decider when Tipperary were victorious.

Limerick entered the record books in 1938 as the first team to win five consecutive National League titles. It is a record which has never been equalled. Ryan played a key role in all five of the victories.

A period of decline followed for Limerick, with many people believing that the team's best days were behind them. This certainly seemed the case in 1940, when it took two late goals from Jackie Power and a storming display by Mick Mackey to level the Munster semi-final with Waterford. Another late rally gave Limerick a victory in the subsequent replay. Ryan's side put in another excellent performance in the Munster final to draw the game with reigning provincial champions Cork. At half-time in the replay Limerick looked like a spent force. Held scoreless for the entire thirty minutes, Mackey got the recovery underway in the second-half with a point from a seventy. He later moved back to the defense, where Cork were running riot with goals. A pitch invasion scuppered the game for ten minutes, however, Limerick held on to win by 3–3 to 2–4 and Ryan collected a fifth Munster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland decider on 1 September 1940, brought Kilkenny and Limerick together for the last great game between the two outstanding teams of the decade. Early in the second-half Kilkenny took a four-point lead, however, a positional switch at midfield proved vital. Limerick hung on to win the game on a score line of 3–7 to 1–7. The win gave Ryan his third All-Ireland medal.

Limerick took a back seat to Cork and Tipperary in the Munster series of games for the next few years.

In 1944, Limerick squared up to Cork in the provincial final as the Leesiders were aiming for a fourth consecutive All-Ireland final victory. Ryan was a veteran hurler by now, however, he was still a key member of the Limerick team. An incredible game saw Cork come back to draw the game on a remarkable 4–13 to 6–7 score line. In the last fifteen minutes of the subsequent replay, Limerick were up by four points when a goal by Mick Mackey was disallowed as he was deemed to be fouled as he went through. The subsequent free hit the outside of the post and dropped wide. Only seconds remained when Cork's Christy Ring caught the sliotar and fired a fierce shot into the net to win the game.

Following a defeat by Cork in the Munster decider in 1946, Ryan effectively retired from inter-county hurling.