Pat Ryan is proving that he is first and foremost a family man after turning down the offer to continue his tenure with the Rebels.
The Cork Hurling manager has announced that he will step back from his position for the coming season after weighing up his options with his family.
Pat has been at the helm of the team since Kieran Kingston stepped back in 2022, having made the leap from the U20 team and nurturing some of the players into the senior teams.
Highlights of his time included winning a league title for the first time in 27 years after edging out Tipperary, and his side readily dispatched Limerick to claim the Munster title after a tense penalty shoot-out in June.
Despite his success, All-Ireland glory remained narrowly out of reach when Tipperary staged a winning comeback in July.
On Friday, officials asked Pat to lead the charge for another season, but after chatting to his family about what that would mean, he has decided against it.
As he spoke of stepping back, he noted that it had been an immensely difficult year for his family following the loss of his brother and a former Cork player, Ray, in March
'2025 was an especially emotional and devastating year for me and my whole family, but the support we have received after our beloved Ray's passing from the wider GAA family and especially the Cork public, has been very inspiring,' Pat said.
He continued: 'The following this Cork team has generated has been amazing, the sea of red at matches means so much to all of us involved but especially to the players, a genuine heartfelt thanks to every Cork GAA fan - keep believing.
Pat went on to thank all those who have made his time with Cork special in particular the players but reserved a special note of thanks for his family.
'To my family, Tricia, Daniel, Aisling and Cian, my parents, brothers and sister-in-laws, thank you for your unwavering support - as our beloved Ray would often say "Keep Believing" - we will win it next year, God Bless.'
