“That’s just the way it is” | Pat Ryan on leaving the Limerick squad, impact role and “complete honesty” from John Kiely

Ryan first came to prominence with John Kiely as part of the Limerick U21 side that claimed the All-Ireland title under the Galbally man’s tutelage in 2015.

Multiple All-Ireland winner Pat Ryan made his return to the Limerick senior side in January for the Munster Hurling League outing with Kerry as he started at corner forward.

The Doon native failed to hit the target before being removed just shy of the hour mark. After missing out on the majority of last year’s championship following an off-field incident in the wake of the championship victory over Tipperary.

Ryan was back in tow for the start of the 2023 season but his campaign would come to an end that day in Tralee after he was dropped from the panel prior to the onset of the National League.

He was one of a number of All-Ireland winners to receive the call as he spoke of the news on Off The Ball with Nathan Murphy on Thursday evening.

“I got the pre-season and stuff in like that. But when the League panel was being put together, I didn’t make the squad for this year we’ll say. That’s just the way it is. There’s fierce young talent coming through. Obviously I was disappointed to not be involved for the year coming.”

But the Doon man praised the conduct of Limerick manager John Kiely in his handling of the decision and outlined his outlook on it as he prefers to look back fondly on the time involved rather than missing out on the coming year.

“It was like every other conversation I’ve had with John, just complete honesty on his part. He will let you know, ‘we’re looking at this player’ or something like that. Like I said, there are so many young players that are coming through in the county that are very impressive as you would have seen in the league.

“Like I said, I was disappointed not to be involved for this year but instead of looking at what I don’t have in this year, I would rather look back on the last six or seven years and what I did get out of it. I feel more lucky than unlucky I can tell you that!”

Ryan first came to prominence with John Kiely as part of the Limerick U21 side that claimed the All-Ireland title under the Galbally man’s tutelage in 2015.

He was subsequently called into the senior panel in 2016 under TJ Ryan but it was Kiely who gave him his debut in his game in charge of the senior side.

However, Ryan was often restricted to appearances off the bench as he failed to nail down a starting role with All-Stars like Peter Casey, Graeme Mulcahy, Seamus Flanagan and Aaron Gillane ahead of him in the pecking order.

Yet, despite the disappointment of missing out on a starting role, Ryan played his part from the bench, most notably against Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final back in 2018 where his goal eventually helped Limerick past the Rebels in extra-time.

“You always want to start, that never changes even if you’re in that role. You never really truly accept it in a way. When the team is named on a Friday night you are always disappointed because you’re pushing hard but you have to get over it quite quickly.

“John and the management team are brilliant in terms of placing importance on subs coming in. The way I looked at it was, if you’re being asked to come on, and you’re three up or three down, it’s the most important time of the game so it doesn’t dilute your importance in that way.

“Before the game, John would come speak to the subs probably more than he would the starting XV. Even on a Tuesday, there’s no such thing as just talking to the starting 15. As much is a cliche, it really is all about the group.”

For now, Ryan will have to contend with watching on from the sidelines but he will know that a recall is not out of the question after years of service. In recent years, a number of players have used the county championship as a means to getting back into the squad with Oisin O’Reilly’s performances for Kilmallock in their SHC win in 2021 earning him his recall. Closer to home, Barry Murphy, a club mate of Ryan was drafted back in after a couple of years away from the panel.

Still shy of his 28th birthday, attention will shift to Doon later in the year where Ryan will be looking to make his mark and help them deliver a first-ever title.

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