Ryan joined the Doon club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels, enjoying championship success in under-12, under-14 and under-15 grades. As a member of the club's minor team, he won back-to-back championship medals in 2012 and 2013 following respective defeats of Patrickswell and Na Piarsaigh.[3] Ryan later made his senior championship debut for the club.[citation needed]
Inter-county
Minor and under-21
Ryan first played for Limerick at minor level in 2012, in a season which ended with a defeat by Clare in the Munster Championship semi-final.[4][5]
Ryan joined the Limerick under-21 hurling team in 2014. In his second season he won a Munster Championship medal after a 0-22 to 0-19 win over Clare in the final.[6][7] On 12 September 2015, Ryan was at midfield when Limerick defeated Wexford by 0-26 to 1-07 in the All-Ireland final.[8] He ended the season by being named on the Bord Gáis Energy Team of the Year.[9]
Senior
On 12 February 2017, Ryan made his first appearance for the Limerick senior team in a 1-14 to 0-14 National Hurling League defeat by Wexford.[10]
On 19 August 2018, Ryan was a non-playing substitute when Limerick won their first All-Ireland title in 45 years after a 3-16 to 2-18 defeat of Galway in the final.[11]
On 30 June 2019, Ryan won a Munster Championship medal as a non-playing substitute following Limerick's 2-26 to 2-14 defeat of Tipperary in the final.[12]