Shane Lowry says he was "jumping around the place like an eejit" after seeing his beloved Offaly win the All-Ireland U20HC title.
While half of the Faithful County - including his parents Brendan and Bridget - were in Nowlan Park on Saturday evening cheering Leo O'Connor's young guns to victory - the Clara golfer had to make do with watching the game from his hotel room in Hamilton, Ontario where he was competing in the RBC Canadian Open.
Lowry, who is one of Offaly GAA’s biggest benefactors and whose Tullamore pub The Old Warehouse hosted the team's homecoming celebrations on Sunday, said in a video call to promote the ticket ballot for The Open at Royal Portrush next year: "I watched it. I finished like I planned to play bad on purpose the first two days. I got off the golf course at ten past two and the match started at quarter past.
“I got straight into the car and watched the first half on my phone and then watched the second half in the hotel room on my own with my Offaly jersey on sitting on the bed.
"Well, I wasn't sitting much I was jumping around the place like an eejit. I was very proud.”
He added: "It's great for Offaly hurling, great for those young lads. Great for (Offaly chairman) Michael Duignan, (team manager) Lee O'Connor and all those lads.
"I was very proud of what they've done. We have a long way to go to catch the big teams, but they showed that we are certainly on the way."
TweetProud of these lads yesterday and great to have them back at the Old Warehouse Tullamore to celebrate today. It’s been a few years in the making and I hope ye enjoy every minute of it @Offaly_GAA 💚🤍💛 pic.twitter.com/prJOGK7I3U
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) June 2, 2024