Shoulderghost what a bitter post from you, that's a long time to be carrying such baggage, 20 years was it ? it's obvious that big chip you are carrying around masked as rightful indignation is finally getting to you, anyway you wont have to worry about celebrations any time soon as limerick bask in the doldrums of mediocrity.

mlcollins (Kerry) - Posts: 440 - 02/11/2012 16:15:35    1291728

Relax a bit lads.
Doesn't matter if you love him or hate him the fact is he was a very important part of 3 All-Ireland winning teams and that's the most important fact.

Superglue (Kerry) - Posts: 1283 - 02/11/2012 16:30:26    1291742

Great No 4, 3 Sams a great return for a county lile Tyrone. Best of luck, will always rember the Celtic tiger days when both Kerry and Tyrone were kings.

kerryrowz (Kerry) - Posts: 833 - 02/11/2012 18:05:26    1291791

Great No 4, 3 Sams a great return for a county lile Tyrone. Best of luck, will always remember the Celtic tiger days when both Kerry and Tyrone were kings.
Kerryrowz Kerry


LOL, A nice bit of baiting there kerryrowz, very cute!

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 02/11/2012 18:50:22    1291811

A great servant for tyrone gaa. Will be missed. All the best too him...

DUB1 (Dublin) - Posts: 5583 - 03/11/2012 08:35:42    1291896

His unflinching dedication to his sport and his county,coupled with his willingness to (occasionally)behave very badly symbolised both the good and the bad of the gaa.
A great player but I reckon he ll be remembered more for the "darker" aspect of his game (at least outside of Tyrone).

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 03/11/2012 17:13:54    1292054

Great leader, incredible clubman, humble and considerate county "Star" who spends enormous time with youth of Dromore and throughout the county.
I've seen him dish out and receive a lot of abuse but without doubt his footballing ability, tenacity, and drive set him above most. In a county built on development squads and underage glory Ryan was left behind - if he hadn't been so determined he would never have made the breakthrough, Tyrone may well never have won 3 AI's and Dromore certainly wouldn't have won 3 senior titles in 5 years. From what I heard the dressing room will be a much duller place.
We will never have a player like him again - go raibh mile maith agat "Ricey".

Tyronetim (Tyrone) - Posts: 1254 - 05/11/2012 20:32:59    1293153

Absolute ******** but then I never met him in the flesh so I could be wrong, we can all turn into something different on the pitch in the heat of the moment.
But to be honest he wouldn't be a player I admired because I can only remember him for all the wrong reasons. It's a bit sad really there are a good few players like that out there.
One Kerry man in particular I can think of who is a great player but will be remembered as a bit of a tool.

Nick (Wexford) - Posts: 1100 - 06/11/2012 09:30:16    1293239

Nick
County: Wexford
Posts: 894
Absolute ******** but then I never met him in the flesh so I could be wrong, we can all turn into something different on the pitch in the heat of the moment.
But to be honest he wouldn't be a player I admired because I can only remember him for all the wrong reasons. It's a bit sad really there are a good few players like that out there.
One Kerry man in particular I can think of who is a great player but will be remembered as a bit of a tool.

Your first word and assumed second expletive seem to be contradicted immediately below.
The word "Absolute" - suggests you have no doubt and then go on to express some.
If you are specific in what you consider to be ******** then I will gladly give you my reasons for holding these views.
Unlike many posters I have said I have seen him involved in and on the receiving end of some unsavoury stuff - that's "Balance".
My opinions on his leadership and drive are more subjective but are based on my years of watching him and his influence on the teams he represented.
Tyrone's much discussed defensive railities in ecent years have been due to a waning of his powers. I can't think of anyone remotely close to replacing him in the last 3 years as the team attempts a rebuild.

Tyronetim (Tyrone) - Posts: 1254 - 06/11/2012 13:13:06    1293346

those who say they remember him for orther reasons have very selective memories, while i can recall one or two incidents my abiding memories of Ricey are of his marking and anticipation abilities and the white boots surging up the wing with the ball, supporting his team mates and knocking over the odd point. He was fierce looking especially with the beard and missing tooth but by all accounts was a real gentleman outside the field. A superb footballer who I'm sure will be misses in Tyrone.
Good luck Ricey

2leftfeet (None) - Posts: 130 - 06/11/2012 13:54:26    1293378

That's about it 2leftfeet - well said.

Tyronetim (Tyrone) - Posts: 1254 - 06/11/2012 16:03:06    1293498

A legend he was and thanks ricey for all your dedication and what you have done for us

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 06/11/2012 17:04:22    1293547

His unsporting antics made his reputationin my opinion. Good luck to him.

artisan (Down) - Posts: 1795 - 06/11/2012 17:22:07    1293575

Hell of a footballer..incredible drive. Just shows what can be acheived with the right character.

Tyronetim (Tyrone) - Posts: 1254 - 06/11/2012 20:15:07    1293745

Tyronetim
County: Tyrone
Posts: 845

Maybe it's a North-South thing.
What my post conveyed was my impression of him from what I have seen in relation to his playing carreer. I never said he was or wasn't and the following passage in my post outlined that I don't really know him personally and he could be a nice person to met.
At the end of the day he wouldn't be the type of roll-model I would want my sons to look up to in relation to how he carried himself on the field.
That's all I am saying. I think one of his recent performances against Kerry highlighted his flawed personality on the field and it's a pity because that was his last game and to me it just leaves the worst sort of memory in my head. Obviously as a Tyrone fan you will have different opinions because he was part of a team that brought you great memories. Football wise I wouldn't really class him as one of the greats either though to be honest. Again just my opinion.

Nick (Wexford) - Posts: 1100 - 07/11/2012 10:50:53    1293892

Well Nick that's a more reasoned post than the one starting "Absolute ********".
You went on to express some doubt which undermined the absolute part never mind the ******* part.

As I said Ryan took quite a bit and gave quite a bit also. I wouldn't support the verbal's but as a leader and a driving influence on that team only Dooher probably equalled him.
As a role model off the pitch and for his passion on it (excepting the occasional snarl granted) he was the consummate GAA role model. He worked in Belfast for the most part drove to Dromore (1.5 hour one way) to train Dromore's youth as well as his his inter-county commitments. People in Tyrone can testify to how well prepared Dromore's youngsters are.
I'm not from Dromore but his reputation for such club commitment spread far and wide. Something maybe not appreciated is that Dromore won 3 out 5 senior championships in Tyrone and were never considered leading lights until recently. Although they have some decent players Ricey is the catalyst there too.
As said previously Tyrone probably more than most counties has a development squad which is very difficult to break into, but he broke into that Tyrone team full of U-21 and minor AI's and became central to it.
This National league after the Monaghan game the Tyrone players came back out for photos and autograph's with the youngsters - he was mobbed and took most time with the kids. Off the field he is as modest a lad as you'll encounter in fact very self-deprecating. For fans he on occasion gave journalists great stories by "Saying it as it is", no sitting on the fence either as you might expect. At times he was dropped for loss of form but rather than feel sorry for himself he came roaring back.

Tyronetim (Tyrone) - Posts: 1254 - 07/11/2012 13:08:08    1294001

most true GAA followers will not be saddened by this news. and I for one will not weep for him.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5524 - 09/11/2012 18:54:10    1295529

Who's weeping!

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 09/11/2012 19:50:36    1295556

Not too many hey!

MissDownFanatic (Down) - Posts: 411 - 09/11/2012 20:28:00    1295582

"True GAA followers" won't be be saddened - what nonsense. Who are you to arbitrate on "True GAA followers" and decide what they will think?

People with an insight to Ryan have gone to great lengths to give an insight to the many admirable characteristics other than the usual negatives.
So much hypocrisy among GAA fans.

Tyronetim (Tyrone) - Posts: 1254 - 10/11/2012 10:38:04    1295625