SHANE LOWRY MAY be better known as one of Ireland’s leading golfers.
But his sporting interests extend beyond the fairways and greens.
The Clara native is a proud Offaly man and comes from a strong GAA background.
He still keeps an eye on his native county’s endeavors and having his finger on the pulse in he GAA saw him take a spot next to Marty Morrissey last night on the RTE hotseat for Championship Matters along with Derry footballer Eoin Bradley and Cork camogie player Anna Geary.
Here’s five things that we learned from Lowry’s appearance.
1. He watched the 1982 All-Ireland final between Offaly and Kerry regularly when he was growing up
“My dad (Brendan) was obviously on the 82 team and two of my uncles (Sean and Michael). Sean still has the ball down in his house in Doon from the final and we’ve watched it (the 82 final) a good few times.
“Football was huge in our house. We followed the county in hurling as well. The GAA is big in Offaly and I’m still mad into it as well.”
Sean and Michael Lowry after the 1982 final.
Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland
2. Corner-forward was his GAA position when he was younger
“I played corner-forward as well. I used to kick the frees. I wasn’t too bad but as you can imagine I wasn’t that quick off the mark.
“I played up until I was U16 and played a bit of hurling as well. We wouldn’t be known for our hurling in Clara. But we’d a decent football team and we still do.”
Shane Lowry
3. He watched Offaly and Kilkenny’s hurling match last Sunday with Brian Whelehan
“I was standing beside Brian Whelehan at the match and I said to him, ‘it was like being at the games in the 90′s’. Kilkenny are definitely by far the best team in the country. To get within five points of those and score four goals is a credit to the lads.
“I see the effort they put in, I know a few of them. I was delighted for them. Waterford in the qualifiers is obviously going to be a tough game. But if they beat Waterford, they’ve a great chance of going further.”
Offaly’s Dan Currams celebrates finding the net last Sunday.
Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
4. He has a soft spot for the Laois teams as they share the same nutritionist
“The nutrionist I use works with both the Laois hurling and football team. I was just talking to him lsat Thursday, all the talk in the hurlers dressing-room is positive ahead of next Sunday against Galway.
“They’ll look at what Offaly did and try to do the same. I think if Laois stay with Galway this weekend and get within five or six points of them, it’s a good day for them.”
Shane Lowry
5. And he’d love to see Mayo lift Sam this year
“I can’t see Roscommon getting within many points of Mayo on Sunday. I think Mayo will go a long way in the championship this year and I’d love to see them win the All-Ireland actually.”
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan
