Shane Lowry eyeing Sunday showdown with Rory McIlroy at Irish Open

Shane Lowry set his sights on a Sunday showdown with Rory McIlroy after the headline attractions played their way into contention in the Irish Open.

Lowry added a second round of 69 to his opening 72 for a halfway total of one under par at Royal County Down, with McIlroy’s 70 leaving him four under and just one off the clubhouse lead held by Laurie Canter and Todd Clements.

“I know I can go and give it a run,” Lowry, who won the title in 2009 while still an amateur, said.

“I think it’s what the tournament wants and needs. Obviously myself, and Rory is up there. It would be great if the two of us could give it a run on Sunday. You never know.

“It would be nice to go toe-to-toe on Sunday. We’ll see. It’s up to me to get myself there. I’m pretty sure he’ll get there anyway.”

Lowry and McIlroy were among the early starters on Friday and both were left to rue failing to take full advantage of surprisingly benign conditions.

“I felt like I hit some great shots, drove the ball brilliantly,” former Open champion Lowry added.

“Gave myself a few chances and then to bogey the ninth, my last hole, was pretty disappointing. But when I go back and assess my round, I’ll be pretty happy with what I did today.”

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