Lowry laments loss of Offaly legend Johnny Flaherty — “He was some golfer!”

Johnny Flaherty pictured alongside fellow Offaly legends Joe Dooley and Michael Duignan after his albatross at Esker Hills

Shane Lowry fondly remembers the late Offaly hurler Johnny Flaherty as a great golfer and character and a massive loss to the GAA family.

Speaking at the launch of the 2024 Amgen Irish Open at the sponsor’s headquarters in Dublin, the Offaly man recalled how Flaherty, who passed away on Wednesday morning following a short illness aged 74, was a larger-than-life character with a real talent for golf.

“He was some golfer,” Lowry said as he announced his commitment to the Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down next year. “He had a hole-in-one on the par-four second at Esker Hills.  

“I remember the first time I played golf with him, he stood up on the first tee — and Johnny was small enough — and he hit this thing off the first tee and I was like, ‘Jesus, where did that come from?'  

“I was only born in 1987 so I don’t recall the 1981 All-Ireland (and Flaherty’s famous goal).  

“It is obviously sad to hear. He’s obviously one of the legends in Offaly sport and Offaly hurling. So you know, it's sad for him and his family. And it's a bit of a shock, I'm sure, to everyone.

“I played golf with him a few times and he was always the type of person you'd hear him in the golf club before you'd see him. He was good craic, Johnny.”