Can Pat Ryan end the 19 year drought?

By Alex Redmond

“We’ve nothing won, we’re into an All-Ireland Final.” Those were the frank words of Cork senior hurling manager Pat Ryan following his team’s epic semi-final triumph over Limerick in Croke Park last Sunday week.

Cork’s path to the final has been far from straightforward, prompting Ryan to stay focused after the semi-final on 7 July.

Following disappointing defeats to Waterford and Clare in the opening rounds of the Munster Championship, Cork were once again on the brink of early elimination. Last year, despite some promising performances in the Munster Championship, Cork failed to progress to the All-Ireland series.

Fortunes changed for Ryan and his team however, when they beat champions Limerick in round three in a classic game in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

A resounding win against Tipperary in their final group game in Munster gave Ryan’s men hope going into the final round.

Sitting out round five, all of Cork held their breath as results narrowly went their way to send them through to the knockout stages of the All-Ireland series.

Wins over a buoyant Offaly and a resurgent Dublin team lead to their semi-final clash against Limerick.

Now only Clare stand in the way of Cork’s first all-Ireland hurling title since 2005 - a drought for a county as steeped in success as Cork is.

Success on 21 July would certainly be Ryan’s crowning achievement in an already stellar career as both a player and manager.

Pat Ryan began his hurling career with Sarsfields GAA club, where he played at underage level, making his debut with senior team in 1995. In 1996 he was selected on the Cork under 21 panel, winning an All-Ireland medal in 1997.

Later that year, he debuted for the senior side. He was part of the All-Ireland winning side in 1999 and won successive Munster championships in 1999 and 2000.

Before retiring, he achieved one of his greatest ambitions, winning a senior county medal with Sarsfields in 2008 and again in 2010.

In 2011 Ryan moved from the midfield to the sidelines, being named manager of his boyhood club, Sarsfields. He emulated his success as a player, guiding them to two county triumphs in 2012 and 2014 respectively.

After taking Sarsfields to three county finals in five years, he began his coaching career at county level, as a selector.

Ryan was named Cork under-20 coach in 2019. In 2022 Pat Ryan replaced Kieran Kingston as Cork senior manager.

Now, Ryan has the opportunity to become a true Leeside legend and end Cork’s All-Ireland title drought!