Alan Lotty

Alan Lotty (1920 – 1973) was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Sarsfield's and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1949.

Playing career

Club

Lotty played his club hurling with his local club Sarsfield's and enjoyed some success. He lined out in the final of the county championship in 1940, however, his side were defeated by a Jack Lynch-led Glen Rovers team. In 1947 Lotty played his part in another county final with Sarsfield's. On that occasion St. Finbarr's provided the opposition and, unfortunately, it was 'the Barr's' who took the title. By the time Sarsfield's made the breakthrough in 1951 Lotty had retired from hurling.^[1]

Inter-county

Lotty first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork minor team in the late 1930s. In 1938 he was a key member of the team that trounced Kerry by 9-3 yo 0-0 to take the Munster title. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against Dublin. It was an exciting game, however, at the final whistle Cork were the winners by 7-2 to 5-4. It was Lotty's first All-Ireland medal, albeit in the minor grade.

The following year Lotty made his debut with the Cork senior hurling team. That year he enjoyed some success, beginning with his first Munster title following a 4-3 to 3-4 victory over Limerick. Lotty later lined out in the subsequent All-Ireland final, one of the most memorable championship deciders of all-time. Kilkenny provided the opposition on that occasion in a game that was played during a fierce thunder storm. World War II was erupting all across Europe as Terry Leahy whipped over the winning point for Kilkenny, who won the game by 2-7 to 3-3.^[2]

Cork bounced back after this defeat in 1940, with Lotty collecting his first National Hurling League medal. Cork, however, were later eliminated from the championship following two classic games against Limerick in a replayed Munster final.

1941 saw Lotty capture a second consecutive National League title. The subsequent Munster and All-Ireland championships were severely hampered due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Tipperary and parts of Leinster. As a result of this Tipperary and Kilkenny, the two counties that were affected the most, were not allowed to participate. It was decided that Cork, after defeated Limerick, would represent Munster in the All-Ireland final. The game against Dublin turned into a rout thanks to contributing goals from Johnny Quirke and Ted O'Sullivan. At the full-time whistel Cork had won by 5-11 to 0-6.^[3] It was one of the most one-sided championship deciders of all-time. This victory gave Lotty his first All-Ireland medal at senior level. In the delayed Munster final in October, however, Tipperary defeated Cork.

In 1942 Cork were still on form, however, Lotty missed the Munster final defeat of Tipperary because of an injury. He subsequently line dout in a third All-Ireland final. Dublin provided the opposition for the second year in-a-row and the opening half turned out to be a close affair. Johnny Quirke gave Cork a comfortable half-time lead thanks to a goal, however, in the second-half Cork went on the rampage. At the final whistle Cork wer ethe champions by 2-14 to 3-4 and Lotty collected a second All-Ireland medal.^[3]

A defeat of Waterford allowed Lotty add a second Munster title to his collection in 1943 before later contesting a third successive All-Ireland final with Cork. Antrim, having already pulled off two of the biggest shocks in hurling by defeating Galway and Kilkenny, were ‘the Rebel’ opponents. The game, however, turned into an absolute rout. At half-time Cork led by 3-11 to 0-2, howvever, by full-time they had forged ahead to capture a 5-16 to 0-4 victory.^[3] It was Lotty's third consecutive All-Ireland medal.

In 1944 Cork faced Limerick in the Munster final. The game ended in a draw and had to be replayed; however, as full-time approached the possibility of another draw seemed likely. With just minutes remaining Christy Ring caught the sliothar in his own half-back line, soloed past a succession of challenges and, from forty yards out, hammered a shot into the Limerick net. Cork went on to win the game by a goal and Lotty captured a third Munster title. Once again Cork went on to face Dublin in the All-Ireland final and, like the previous three years, the Munstermen had an easy win. Dublin could only manage to score 1-2 compared to Cork's 2-13, resulting in Cork taking the title.^[4] With that Cork set a record of four consecutive championship victories that has yet to be beaten and Lotty had won four All-Ireland medals before his 25th birthday.

Cork lost their provincial crown in 1945, however, the team returned in 1946 with Lotty picking up a fourth Munster medal after a defeat of Limerick. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against old rivals Kilkenny for the first time since 1939. Two goals just before half-time put Cork in the driving seat. Five more goals followed in the second period as cork were the 7-5 to 3-8 winners.^[4] It was a remarkable fifth All-Ireland title in six years for Cork and for Lotty.

Lotty added a third National League medal to his collection in 1947, before winning a fifth Munster title following a second consecutive defeat of Limerick. The All-Ireland final was a repeat of the previous year as Cork and Kilkenny did battle again. In what has been described by many as the greatest hurling final of all-time Mossy O'Riordan and Joe Kelly scored two goals that almost won the game for Cork. Kilkenny, however, won the game by 'the usual point' on a score line of 0-14 to 2-7.^[4]

Cork lost their provincial crown in 1948, howeve,r they set out to regain it in 1949. A replay and extra-time eventually separated Cork and Tipperary with the latter foing on to win the Munster title. Following this defeat Lotty decided to hang up his hurley for the last time.^[5]

Provincial

Lotty also lined out with Munster in the inter-provincial hurling championship. He played with his province in both 1941 and 1947, however, Munster were defeated on both occasions by Leinster and Connacht respectively.^[6]

Honours

Cork

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (5): 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946
  • Runner-up (2): 1939, 1947
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (5): 1939, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1947
  • Runner-up (2): 1940, 1948
• National Hurling League:
  • Winner (3): 1940, 1941, 1947
• All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (1): 1938
• Munster Minor Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (1): 1938

References

Teams