Colin Ryan savours a sweet M.Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada title success
Senior Hurling winner Colin Ryan of Limerick with his son Fionn and the trophy after the M. Donnelly GAA Poc Fada All-Ireland Finals at Annaverna Mountain in the Cooley Peninsula, Ravensdale, Louth. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
By Paul Keane
Surrounded by family and friends, with baby Fionn in his arms and the M. Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada trophy in the pushchair, Colin Ryan looked like a particularly happy man.
The Limerick man was making his way down off Annaverna Mountain on the Cooley Peninsula in Louth, with the sun shining above and glorious views stretched out below, after capturing his second national title.
Ryan previously won the title in 2021 but this one was probably sweeter. Quite aside from creating fresh and valuable memories with his son and partner Grace, there were the three runners-up finishes he experienced in each of the last three seasons. At times, he wondered if it would happen again for him at all.
One of Ryan's pucks went down the course's infamous ravine last year, costing him a couple of shots and ensuring he finished two behind Fionan Mackessy.
The previous year, he and Mackessy both traversed the 5km course in 48 pucks but Ryan missed out overall by 46 metres.
This time around, Ryan, former champion Cillian Kiely and Mackessy all took 25 pucks to get around a course which was shortened due to high winds and two unplayable sections.
But Ryan had the superior metre count when the 'extras' gained from shooting beyond the first turning point, as well as shooting beyond the finish line, were totted up.
"It was 13 metres in the end, every bit counts," smiled Ryan. "I knew coming up for my last shot, we'd heard that Cillian was going well so we knew that if we hit a good one, we could win it and thankfully I actually hit a rock. It took a nice little bounce and look, it's a game of inches. It was great to get that bit of luck."
Ryan first experienced the challenging mountain circuit in 2019. Competitors are asked to complete the course by following giant yellow rocks which snake their way around the mountain, across peaks and through valleys with much of it amounting to heavy terrain. A single miscue by Ryan would probably have cost him the title.
"They cut a couple of sections off the course this year," he said. "There was no way you could strike the ball into that wind, it was impossible. It was too breezy. Compared to other years, it was a lot stronger."
Colin Ryan of Limerick competing in the Senior Hurling competition during the M. Donnelly GAA Poc Fada All-Ireland Finals at Annaverna Mountain in the Cooley Peninsula, Ravensdale, Louth. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Having the support of family and friends in County Louth made all the difference. Everybody was clearly pulling for Ryan as the Limerick IHC game he played in on Sunday afternoon, for Pallasgreen against Murroe-Boher, was even brought forward by four hours to accommodate his preparations.
"I was sore enough after the game," said Ryan. "We actually got that match brought back to three o'clock. It was supposed to be on at seven o'clock.
"And I got so much great support on the day itself. Conor Roche, PJ, Jimmy, Ned Gammell, Aaron Greene, my girlfriend of course, Grace, her sister, Kate, it all helps. I got a good night's sleep on Sunday night, Kate took Fionn. So it was a collective effort. Noah Deere was another that I'd like to mention as well. Ned Gammell's wife, Catherine, was there too. Fair play to them all."
Ryan was part of the Limerick senior panel that won a breakthrough All-Ireland title in 2018. The previous year he lined out in the All-Ireland U-21 final triumph over Kilkenny, alongside future county senior icons like Sean Finn, Tom Morrissey, Cian Lynch and Aaron Gillane.
This latest Poc Fada success ranks up there among his greatest achievements, according to Ryan.
"It's well up there," he said. "You're on your own, compared to playing with the club or in a team. So it's that bit tougher mentally. You're striking by yourself and there's no-one there to help you with that strike, or to dig you out of a hole. So I put it right up there.
"The 2021 win was special but I'd say this was even more special having come second the last two or three years. To get over the line was just great. You'd wonder at times would it happen again but thankfully it did."
Key to making it happen this time was a more relaxed approach.
"I didn't put as much pressure on myself this year, I just went up and had a crack at it," he said. "The last couple of years, I probably did put that bit of pressure on myself. This time, I tried to just let it flow and let it happen and it kind of worked. It helped me in the end."