Christy Ryan R.I.P
St Finbarr’s and Cork mourn the death of highly decorated dual star Christy Ryan
Mark Woods (The Echo)
THE death has taken place of Christy Ryan, the former Cork football captain and St Finbarr’s club stalwart. He was 63. Ryan, who was also a Cork hurler, won a national football league medal in 1980, manning the defence from centre-back. He was part of two successful Cork teams in Munster, leading the side on that famous day when Tadhg Murphy’s late goal rocked Kerry in the 1983 final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Four years later Ryan bagged his second Munster senior medal when Cork overcame their great rivals by 0-13 to 1-5 in the decider in Killarney. The St Finbarr’s great was full-forward in 1987 when Cork reached the All-Ireland final to lose to Meath.
Ryan’s exploits with the Barrs came during their golden era, winners of the All-Ireland club titles in both football and hurling. The foundations of those brilliant teams were laid by the all-conquering minor sides of 1976, when the Barrs completed the league and championship double in both codes with Ryan captaining the footballers. Among his vast collection of medals, Ryan pocketed three All-Ireland clubs, when they managed to keep clean sheets in all three finals. The first of those came in the 1979-80 campaign, which yielded an historic title following the 3-9 to 0-8 win over Connacht champions St Grellan’s from Galway. The Barrs retained their crown the following season, on this occasion denying Walterstown from Meath by 1-8 to 0-6 in the decider. And the Togher club were champions again in 1986-87 after defeating Clann na Gael from Roscommon by 0-10 to 0-7 in the final.
CHRISTY RYAN’S PLAYING CAREER
Cork County Champions in Minor Hurling (Captain) and Minor Football Cork Minor Footballer
Cork County Senior Football Champions
Defeated in the semi-final of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship
Cork County Senior Hurling Champions (scored the Barrs goal in front of 34,151 spectators)
Munster Club Senior Hurling Champions
Defeated in quarter-final of the Cork County Senior Football Championship
Cork County Under 21 Football Champions (Captain)
Cork U21 Footballer and Cork Senior Footballer – National League and Munster Championship
All-Ireland Club Senior Hurling Champions
Cork County Under 21 Football Champions (Captain)
Defeated semi-finalists in the Cork County Senior Hurling and Football Championships
Cork U21 Footballer and Cork Senior Footballer – National League and Munster Championship
Cork U21 Hurler
Cork County Senior Football Champions (Man of the Match)
Munster Club Senior Football Champions
Defeated in the final of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship
Cork Senior Footballer – National League (defeated finalists) and Munster Championship
– Barrs best in Hurling and Football
All-Ireland Club Senior Football Champions
Cork County Senior Hurling Champions
Munster Club Senior Hurling Champions
Cork County Senior Football Champions (Captain)
Munster Club Senior Football Champions (Captain)
Cork Senior Footballer – National League (Champions and Captain) and Munster Championship
Cork Senior Hurler – National Hurling League Champions
Christy Ryan and Jimmy Barry Murphy won National League medals in Hurling & Football in 1980
– Barrs in All-Ireland Club Hurling & Football Finals
All Ireland Club Senior Football Champions (Captain)
Cork County Senior Hurling Champions (Top scorer in the Championship with 6-05)
Defeated in the semi-final of the Cork County Senior Football Championship
Cork Senior Footballer – National League and Munster Championship
Cork Senior Hurler – Munster Championship
– Barrs best in Hurling and Football
Cork County Senior Hurling Champions
Cork County Senior Football Champions
Munster Club Senior Football Champions
Cork Senior Footballer – National League and Munster Championship
Defeated in the final of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship
Defeated in the semi-final of the Cork County Senior Football Championship
Cork Senior Footballer – National League and Munster Championship (Champions and Captain)
Cork County Senior Hurling Champions (scored 3-1 against Blackrock in the semi-final)
Defeated in the final in the Cork County Senior Football Championship
Cork Senior Footballer – National League and Munster Championship
Cork County Senior Football Champions
Defeated in the first round of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship
Cork Senior Footballer – National League and Munster Championship
Defeated in the final of the Cork County Senior Football Championship
Munster Club Senior Football Champions
Defeated in the quarter-final of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship
Cork Senior Footballer – National League and Munster Championship
All-Ireland Club Senior Football Champions
Defeated in the second round of the Cork County Senior Football Championship
Defeated in the semi-final of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship
Cork Senior Footballer – National League, Munster Championship (Champions) and defeated in the All-Ireland Senior Football Final
– Barrs win their fifth Senior Hurling Championship in the 80’s
Cork County Senior Hurling Champions (starred in the County Final)
Defeated in the quarter-final of the Cork County Senior Football Championship
Defeated in the semi-final of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship
Defeated in the final of the Cork County Senior Football Championship
Defeated in the final of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship (after a replay)
Defeated in the final of the Cork County Senior Football Championship (Captain)
Defeated in the quarter-final of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship
Defeated in the final of the Cork County Senior Football Championship
Defeated in the quarter-final of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship (after a replay)
Defeated in the second round of the Cork County Senior Football Championship (after a replay)
Following his retirement in 1992, he acted in various capacities (selector/manager/mentor) on a number of Barrs hurling and football teams over the next 3 decades.
• Played at senior level for the Barrs for 17 consecutive seasons
•11 Cork County Senior Championships (6 Hurling and 5 Football – Captain in 1980; played in 20 County Finals)
• 6 Munster Senior Club Championships (2 Hurling and 4 Football – Captain in 1980)
• 4 All-Ireland Club Championship (1 Hurling and 3 Football – Captain in 1981)
• 2 U21 County Championships (2 Football – Captain of both teams)
• 2 Minor County Championships (1 Hurling – Captain, 1 Football as player)
• Cork Senior Championship Footballer from 1977 to 1987 (11 consecutive seasons and played some outstanding games against the greatest Kerry teams of all times)
• Cork Senior Championship Hurler in 1981 (National League in 1980)
• 2 Munster Senior Football Championships (Captain in 1983)
• All-Ireland Senior Football Runners up in 1987
• 2 National League Medals (1 Football – Captain and 1 Hurling)
