Jane Adams | Veronica Curtin | Claire Doherty | Mags D'Arcy
Aisling Diamond | Shónagh Enright | Jessica Gill | Fiona Hahnefeld | Mary Lacey Ciara Lucey | Therese Maher | Mairin McAleenan | Eimear McDonnell
Sinéad Millea | Niamh Mulcahy | Eileen O'Brien | Mary O'Connor
Una O'Donaghue | Una O'Dwyer | Imelda Kennedy | Catherine O'Loughlin
Jen O'Leary | Joanne Ryan | Marie Dargan | Sinéad Cahalan
Tina Hannon | Trish Jackman
When Joanne Ryan first held a hurley stick at the age of four she knew it was the game for her. Twenty years later she is still playing and lining out for her county at the highest level. Only 24, she has won 4 All-Ireland medals and had the honour of captaining Tipperary to All-Ireland glory back in 2004 when they beat Cork in a pulsating final.
With new manager, Tony Delaney in charge, she is looking forward to the new season and the challenges that lie ahead. A real team player with a great work ethic, she is always striving for excellence and believes that her next score is always her best score. After losing to a rampant Cork side in last year’s All-Ireland final she is optimistic about the future, “Losing games like that gives you great drive to work harder to succeed” she says. Watch out other camogie counties - Joanne Ryan means business.
What has been your greatest moment in sport?
Captaining Tipperary to the All-Ireland title back in 2004 when we beat Cork. That was a fantastic day for the team and me. A year earlier I won the County Senior title with Drom & Inch, it was our first time winning it in 22 years and was great for the parish.
Who are the toughest team you have ever faced?
Galway are one of the strongest teams in the game. A very physical team with a never say die attitude.
Who are the toughest players you have come up against?
Mary O’Connor and Gemma O’Connor of Cork.
Which player do you admire the most?
It has to be Jovita Delaney, a modern day legend.
Who were your childhood heroes?
I was a big fan of Tipp greats Tommy Dunne and Nicky English when I was growing up. Paudie Butler was also a big inspiration on me. He was the principle of the Inch National School the Rag and got us all playing camogie and hurling.
How do you balance your job and camogie?
I work with people who love their hurling. They understand the pressures of the game and allow me plenty of time to train and play when the season is up and running.
What club do you play for and who are your biggest rivals?
Drom & Inch is my club and our biggest rivals would be Cashel and Toomevara.
Do you play any other sports?
I love sport and play Gaelic football, soccer, rugby, squash and even a little horseriding.
What’s the most important skill in the game, in your opinion?
It’s all about the first touch. It means that you can get away with the ball that much faster.
What are your hopes for the future?
I want to keep playing at the highest level and win more titles for club and county.
What advice would you give to young players?
Keep practising and remember that you have to lose a few before you start winning.
Never ever give up.
Name: Joanne Ryan
Age: 24
Team: Tipperary
Debut: 2001 v Kilkenny
Position: Wing Forward
Honours:
4 All-Ireland Senior titles,
2 Munster Senior titles,
2 Munster Minor titles,
1 County Club title,
1 All-Star Award,
Tipperary Sports Person of the Year 2004.
Club: Drom & Inch
Fav Food: Potatoes and Dry Beef
Fav Music: Britney Spears
Fav Film: Gladiator
Fav TV: The Sunday Game
Fav Team: Man Utd
Hobbies: Horseriding, farming and swimming
Occupation: Agricultural Consultant
CúlFACT: Hurling obviously runs in the family as she is a relative of famous Tipp hurler Tommy Dunne.
© March 2007
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