Sadness and shock at the passing of former Sarsfields and Cork hurler Ray Ryan

Former Sarsfields and Cork hurler Ray Ryan has died at the age of 43.

Ryan, a brother of Cork senior hurling manager Pat, was a member of An Garda Síochána, based in Cobh.

Having excelled for Sars as they reached the county SHC semi-finals in 2006, Ryan was chosen at centre-back on the Cork championship team of the year and was part of the extended county panel prior to the 2007 season.

In 2008, Sars won the county title for the first time in 51 years, with Ryan again instrumental at centre-back as they reclaimed the Seán Óg Murphy Cup with a final win over Bride Rovers.

Called up by Gerald McCarthy to the Cork squad at the beginning of the following year, he remained a part of the panel under new boss Denis Walsh. 

Though he didn’t feature in the 2009 championship, he appeared as a sub in the 2010 Munster championship against Limerick and Waterford and started the All-Ireland quarter-final win over Antrim.

Later that year, he won another SHC medal as Sars beat Glen Rovers in the final and two more followed in 2012 and 2014, with wins over Bishopstown and the Glen respectively.

In recent years, he had been involved on the coaching side with Sars and Glanmire, with whom he played football. 

At the time of his death, he was part of the management set-up with the Sars minor team, which reached last year’s Rebel Óg Premier 1 MHC final.

“Ray was an absolute Sars man to the core,” said club chairperson Keith Mulcahy, “he lived for the club.”

“It’s such a tragedy for his family, first and foremost, everyone who knew him in Sars, his Garda colleagues and his wide group of friends.”

Ray Ryan is survived by his wife Aishling (née Foley), children McKenna, Rory, and Elliot, his parents Marian and Paddy, brothers Pat, Trevor, and Ken, father-in-law Bill, mother-in-law Catherine and her partner Tim, sisters-in-law Róisín, Tricia, Laura, and Niamh and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and extended family.

He will be reposing at Barry Bros. Funeral Home, Hazelwood, Glanmire, on Thursday, February 27 from 5-6pm with requiem Mass taking place on Friday at 11am in St Joseph’s Church, Springhill.