Michael Ryan is back in inter-county hurling management with Westmeath.

The Fourmilewater clubman was tonight ratified as the Lake County's new senior and U21 hurling manager in succession to Brian Hanley. His last inter-county post was with his native Waterford who he managed in 2012 and 2013, guiding them to a Munster SHC final appearance in his first season in charge.

A hugely passionate GAA man, Ryan came to prominence as a coach with the Ballymacarbry ladies football team that won an incredible nine All-Ireland club titles between 1989 and '99. He doubled up as Waterford manager for all of the same period, guiding them to the first of five All-Ireland senior successes in 1991. He also played a key role in delivering Brendan Martin Cups to Laois and Dublin in 2001 and 2010 respectively. In all, Michael has been involved with a remarkable 32 All-Ireland winning ladies football teams.

A selector with the Waterford U21 football that recorded a shock win over Kerry after a replay in 2000, Ryan became a Waterford senior hurling selector in 2007. Under Justin McCarthy's management, they won the Allianz Hurling League and Munster championship that year.

Later in 2007, he managed Munster to an Inter-provinicial hurling title. In 2009, he crossed the county boundary to manager Mullinahone to the South Tipperary hurling championship. That led to him taking charge of De La Salle in 2010. In what was his only season with the Waterford city outfit, he steered them to Waterford and Munster club SHC titles. They subsequently lost the All-Ireland semi-final to Galway's Clarinbridge by a last-minute goal.

His selectors will be confirmed in due course.

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