Lester Ryan

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the other Irish hurler, see Lester Ryan (hurler, born 1988). For the Montserratian sprinter, see Lester Ryan (athlete).

Lester Ryan
Personal information
Irish name Lester Ó Riain
Sport Hurling
Position Midfield
Born (1959-04-18)18 April 1959
Clara, County Kilkenny, Ireland
Died 6 June 2020(2020-06-06) (aged 61)
Gowran, County Kilkenny, Ireland
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Occupation Sales clerk
Club(s)
Years Club
 Clara
Club titles
Kilkenny titles 1
Inter-county(ies)
Years County Apps (scores)
1983–1991
 Kilkenny 16 (4–11)
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles 3
All-Irelands 0
NHL 3
All Stars 0

Lester Ryan (18 April 1959 – 6 June 2020) was an Irish

Lester Ryan, were All-Ireland Championship
-winners with Kilkenny.

Playing career

St. Kieran's College

As a student at

All-Ireland final.[1]

Clara

Ryan was still eligible for the minor grade when he was first selected to play at adult level with the

Kilkenny Junior Championship. After claiming an under-21 championship medal in 1979, Ryan lined out in his first adult county final in 1982 when Clara faced Carrickshock in the Kilkenny Intermediate Championship final. He ended the game with a winners' medal
after playing at midfield in the 0–13 to 0–09 victory.

After four years in the Kilkenny Senior Championship, Clara qualified to meet Ballyhale Shamrocks in the 1986 final. Ryan scored four points from frees and claimed a winners' medal after the 3–10 to 4–05 victory.[2] He lined out in a second senior decider when Clara faced Glenmore in the 1990 final but ended the game on the losing side after a 3–15 to 2–06 defeat.

Kilkenny

Minor and under-21

Ryan first played for Kilkenny when he was drafted onto the minor team alongside his brother Harry in advance of the 1975 Leinster Minor Championship. In his debut season, he claimed a Leinster Minor Championship as a substitute after a 2–18 to 3–04 defeat of Dublin in the final before later winning an All-Ireland Minor Championship medal after again lining out as a substitute in the 3–19 to 1–14 victory over Cork. Ryan collected a second successive Leinster Minor Championship medal as a non-playing substitute in 1976, however, Kilkenny suffered a 2–20 to 1–07 defeat by Tipperary in the subsequent All-Ireland final. Eligible for the minor team for a third successive season, he broke onto the starting fifteen as first-choice goalkeeper for the 1977 Leinster Minor Championship. Ryan collected his third provincial winners' medal, his first on the field of play, before later winning a second All-Ireland medal after the 1–08 to 0-09 All-Ireland final defeat of Cork in what was his last game in the minor grade.

Ryan was in his final year of being eligible for the Kilkenny under-21 team when he was appointed captain in advance of the

All-Ireland final
appearance against Tipperary, however, he ended his underage career with a 2–09 to 0–14 defeat.

Senior

After success at club level with

Richie Power in a 1–30 to 1–10 defeat of Westmeath.[citation needed
]

Ryan broke onto the starting fifteen during the

1987 All-Ireland final.[5]

Ryan claimed a third National League medal after Kilkenny clinched the

1991 ALl-Ireland final in what was his last appearance for the team.[7]

Leinster

Ryan's performances at inter-county level saw him secure selection for the

Railway Cup medal after lining out at midfield in Leinster's 2–14 to 1–12 victory over Connacht in the 1988 final
.

Coaching career

Ryan, who previously worked as a car salesman, worked in an official capacity as a coaching officer with the

Shinty-Hurling International Series.[8]

Death

On 6 June 2020, Ryan died in a traffic collision when his bicycle collided with a tractor in Gowran, County Kilkenny, aged 61.[9]

Honours

Player

St. Kieran's College
Clara
Kilkenny
Leinster
  • Railway Cup (1): 1988

Manager

Ireland
  • Shinty-Hurling International Series
    (1): 2008

References

  1. ^ O'Riordan, Ian (20 February 2001). "Flannan's alone in seeking a double". Irish Times. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  2. ^ O'Connor, Christy (14 November 2014). "Clara ready to make history after long fight for respect". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  3. ^ O'Connell, Jerome (27 March 2020). "Limerick hurlers back-to-back National League champions 84/85". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  4. ^ Moran, Seán (18 August 2005). "Galway inspired modern tactics". Irish Times. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  5. ^ "'Older people in Galway remember us, but the young people need new heroes and new stars'". The 42. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Dublin make welcome return to Leinster hurling final". Hogan Stand. 29 June 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  7. ^ Ryan, Larry (2 September 2016). "Michael Cleary: We almost felt we were playing for two All-Irelands". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Hurling reputations thrown aside by brave young Scots". The Scotsman. 20 October 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
  9. ^ "Former Kilkenny hurler Ryan dies in road accident". 7 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.