Ryan joined the Graigue–Ballycallan club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels before eventually joining the club's top adult team in the Kilkenny Intermediate Championship. On 28 October 2018, Ryan lined out at right wing-forward when Graigue–Ballycallan faced Tullaroan in the Kilkenny Intermediate Championship final. He scored three points from play and ended the game with a winners' medal following the 2-16 to 2-13 victory. Ryan was again selected at right wing-forward for the Leinster final on 1 December 2018 but spent much of the game at full-forward. He was held scoreless throughout the game but ended with a winners' medal following the 2-17 to 0-15 defeat of Portlaoise. Ryan became a member of the extended training panel with the Kilkenny senior team at the start of the 2017 season. He remained on the panel for the year but made no competitive appearances. On 18 February 2018, Ryan made his first appearance for the Kilkenny senior team when he lined out at right corner-forward in a 1-20 to 0-12 defeat of Waterford in the National League. On 8 April 2018, he won a National League medal as a member of the extended panel following Kilkenny's 2-23 to 2-17 defeat of Tipperary in the final. Ryan was selected at right corner-forward when Kilkenny faced Galway in the Leinster final on 1 July 2018. He was substituted before the end of the 0-18 apiece draw. Ryan was switched to full-forward for the replay a week later, however, he was once again substituted in the 1-28 to 3-15 defeat. On 30 June 2019, Ryan was selected on the bench when Kilkenny faced Wexford in the Leinster final. He was introduced as a substitute for Walter Walsh but ended on the losing side following the 1-23 to 0-23 defeat. On 18 August 2019, Ryan was again listed amongst the substitutes when Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland final. He was introduced as a substitute for Adrian Mullen and scored two points in the 3-25 to 0-20 defeat