*Originally posted February 20th 2024 https://conalldiggin.substack.com/p/shane-ryan-kerrys-goalkeeper-with
In a county known for its flashy forwards and tough defenders but in an age where the goalkeeper position has found more importance than just a shot stopper, Kerry’s Shane Ryan has become a star for the Kingdom.
The Rathmore man is unquestionably one of the first names on the team sheet for the Kingdom, something that very few could stake a claim to in an ever competitive Kerry panel.
A one time All-Star in 2022 as part of Kerry’s All-Ireland Winning campaign, but it was 2023 where he found the balance between his two roles as Kerry goalkeeper and Rathmore full-forward
“Well, he’s definitely one of the best keepers in the country,” said Adam Moynihan, a sports writer for the Killarney Advertiser and host of The Kerry Football podcast. “but he’s not even an average forward like he’s a really skillful forward.”
For Kerry he had many big performances last season particularly when it came to the All-Ireland Championship. A huge 4 save performance against Mayo set the tone for his championship albeit in a loss for the kingdom.
Another Crucial save would come against Derry in the All-Ireland semi-final when with the match at a stalemate.
Faced with a 1 on 1 against Gareth McKinless who had already put one past him earlier in the game Ryan stood tall and made a save that would end up being imperative in a 2 point win for Kerry and get them to the final
What didn’t make the headlines that day was the fact that Ryan had become the first goalkeeper to score from play in an All-Ireland Semi final, something that his club Rathmore is more than used to.
“I would have trained him when he was under 14 and we’d have played him in every position,” said Denis McCrohane, assistant Secretary for Rathmore GAA. “I’d say we never played him in goal but that’s where he found his way. He’s just an all round natural player, you know, he’s got great hands, great feet …..he’s just an athletic boy.”
Ryan would help lead Rathmore to a victory in the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship in 2023, scoring 1-3 on that fateful day as Rathmore came out 1-11 to 0-11 in Croke Park.
Ryan’s journey between the sticks actually started playing soccer for Killarney Celtic, which eventually led to a trial with Premier league side Nottingham Forest and it was for that reason why Kerry had put him in goal in the underage levels.
Ryan’s success in a split role between goalkeeper and forward has also been aided by the introduction of the split GAA season.
”Of anybody he has been the biggest beneficiary from the split season because it’s like he’s a split personality or a split role … he can concentrate his skills for goalkeeping for six months and then he can go, he can go out as a forward,” explained McCrohane.
The club outfielder to inter-county goalkeeper isn’t an unprecedented move with notably Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan also taking up the dual roles.
It should be no surprise that as the game has evolved and the realisation that all players on the pitch could use their hands that the role of the goalkeeper has undoubtedly changed.
Long gone are the days of hoofing it to the halfway line and getting rid of the ball when keepers are under the slightest bit of pressure.
The modern day keeper is expected to become the extra man in defence or even attack when needed and even in the case of Morgan and Ryan score from play when the opportunity arises.
“When keepers are getting more and more involved and like when he gets the ball in his hands, you never really worry about him ,he doesn’t look shaky, he looks comfortable, he looks composed,” explained Moynihan.
Ryan’s exploits of club and county are to be admired, the level of fitness and competitive spirit needed to be a top class forward in one the toughest counties and then face some of the countries best is something that very few could do.
And yet while the success has come on both a personal and team level his ego has never been questioned by those who have been there from the start.
“He’s been a leader since he was very young, very level headed and you look up to him.” said McCrohan, “But you know he’s been a dominant player and he never abused his position or anything, he’s very good with (the) people around him. He’s just a decent guy.”
His form has carried into 2024 having already started all 3 of the Kingdoms Allianz league games only conceding 1 goal and making a handful of important saves, whilst also escaping pressure to get the ball up field for what seemed like the inevitable David Clifford point in the last minute against Mayo.
So while it may be Clifford, O’Shea or Geaney getting the headlines the next morning its the Ryan’s that help you win.