Open 2019 News – MacIntyre gubbing McIlroy at Shinty/Hurling

Oban’s very own Robert MacIntyre has been causing a sensation at the Open this week, using his shinty skills homed on the shinty parks of Lorn to hammer home favourite Rory McIlroy into submission.

With McIlroy looking likely to miss out on the third and fourth day’s play after a disastrous first round, many pundits reckon he just couldn’t cope with the more physical aspects of the Scottish code when compared with his own hurling skills. Robert was heard to turn to the Ref at one fiery point and say “He should have got his block in, the ball was there.” as the sliotar fell into a sandtrap on the fifth.

With hope fading for the Irish that MacIntyre will follow the example of most Oban shinty players when the going is good and get sent off, the international rules selection panel are taking it seriously and bringing in Shane Lowry from stronger hurling county Offaly to sort the Scot out.

“See, that’s what happens when you have a Down man, they don’t know how to hurl when the chips are down.” said big hurling man, Joe Connelly.

Rory himself said, “The worry is Tiger won’t make the cut either, so you don’t want him prowling about trying to shift your wife when you’re out on the course Saturday/Sunday like.”

Whether Robert will still be in the running for lifting the Liam McCarthy Claret Quaich on Sunday remains to be seen, but hopefully the infamous 2016 Oban Camanachd Scottish Cup Final crowd can add their cultured support if they get there for the final day.