Alan Lotty

Alan Lotty (1920–1973) was an Irish hurler who played as a centre-back for the Cork senior team.^[1]

Lotty joined the team during the 1939 championship and was a regular member of the starting fifteen until his retirement after the 1949 championship. During that time he won five All-Ireland medals, five Munster medals and three National League medals. Lotty was an All-Ireland runner-up on two occasions.

At club level Lotty was a two-time county club championship runner-up with Sarsfield's.

Playing career

Club

Lotty played his club hurling with Sarsfield's but enjoyed little success.

In 1940 he lined out in his first championship decider at senior level as a Jack Lynch-driven Glen Rovers aimed to capture a seventh successive championship. In one of the most high-scoring county finals of all-time, Lotty's side were defeated on a 10–6 to 7–5 score line.^[2]

It took seven years for Sarsfield's to reach the county decider once again, however, there was defeat for Lotty's side once again. St. Finbarr's were the opponents on that occasion and won the game on a score line of 4–6 to 4–4 after scoring a late goal.

By the time Sarsfield's made their breakthrough in 1951 Lotty had retired from hurling.

Inter-county

Lotty first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork minor hurling team in 1938. He won a Munster medal that year following a remarkable 9–3 to no score victory over Kerry. The subsequent All-Ireland final was also a high-scoring affair. A 7–2 to 5–4 defeat of Dublin gave Lotty an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal.

In 1939 Lotty made his senior championship debut against Waterford in the Munster semi-final as Cork made a breakthrough in the provincial championship after nearly a decade in the doldrums. A further 4–3 to 3–4 defeat of Limerick gave Cork the provincial title and gave Lotty his first Munster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against Kilkenny. In one of the most iconic championship deciders of all-time, played on the day that World War II broke out, the climax of which was played in a ferocious thunder storm. While a draw looked likely as the hour drew to a close Paddy Phelan sent a seventy-yard free in towards the Cork goalmouth. The sliotar was gobbled up by the defence and cleared, but only as far as Jimmy Kelly who sent it straight over the bar for a one-point lead. Immediately after the puck-out the referee blew the whistle and Cork were defeated on a score line of 2–7 to 3–3.^[3]

Although defeated in the All-Ireland decider, Cork continued their breakthrough in 1940. An 8–9 to 6–4 defeat of Tipperary in the decider gave Lotty his first National Hurling League medal. He added a second winners' medal to his collection in 1941 following a defeat of Dublin.

An outbreak of foot and mouth disease severely hampered the 1941 championship. As a result of this Cork were nominated to represent the province in the All-Ireland series. Lotty was a key member of the defence in the final against Dublin, however, it turned into a one-sided affair thanks to contributing goals from Johnny Quirke and Ted O'Sullivan. At the full-time whistle Cork had won by 5–11 to 0–6. It was one of the most one-sided championship deciders of all-time, however, it did give Lotty an All-Ireland medal.

Injury robbed Lotty of a second Munster medal in 1942, however, he subsequently lined out in a third All-Ireland decider. It was a replay of the previous year with Dublin providing the opposition once again. The game was a close affair with just a point separating the sides at the three-quarter stage. In the end Cork won comfortably enough by 2–14 to 3–4 and Lotty collected a second All-Ireland medal.

A 2–13 to 3–8 defeat of Waterford in 1943 gave Lotty a second Munster medal. He later lined out in a fourth All-Ireland decider with Antrim becoming the first Ulster side to qualify for a final. Unfortunately, the occasion got to the Glensmen as Cork built up an unassailable 3–11 to 0–2 half-time lead. The final score of 5–16 to 0–4 gave Cork their second-ever hat-trick of All-Ireland titles while it also gave Lotty a third All-Ireland medal.^[4]

In 1944 Cork were attempting to capture a fourth All-Ireland title in-a-row. No team in the history of the hurling championship had won more than three consecutive titles. The year got off to a good start when Cork defeated Limerick by 4–6 to 3–6 after a replay to give Lotty a third Munster medal. For the third time in four years Cork faced Dublin in an All-Ireland decider. Joe Kelly was the hero of the day and he contributed greatly to Cork's 2–13 to 1–2 victory. It was a remarkable fourth successive All-Ireland medal for Lotty.^[5]

Five-in-a-row proved to be a bridge too far for Cork, however, the team returned in 1946. A 3–8 to 1–3 defeat of Limerick gave Lotty his fourth Munster medal. Under the captaincy of Christy Ring, Cork subsequently faced old rivals Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. While some had written off Cork's chances, they took an interval lead of four points. With ten minutes remaining Cork's lead was reduced to just two points, however, goals by Mossy O'Riordan and Joe Kelly secured the victory. A 7–6 to 3–8 score line gave Lotty a fifth All-Ireland medal.

Cork retained their provincial dominance in 1947 with Lotty picking up a fifth and final winners' medal following a three-point victory over Limerick. The All-Ireland final was a repeat of the previous year with Kilkenny providing the opposition. The stakes were high for both sides as Cork were aiming for a record sixth championship in seven seasons while Kilkenny were aiming to avoid becoming the first team to lose three consecutive All-Ireland finals. In what has been described as one of the greatest deciders of all-time, little separated the two teams over the course if the hour. A Joe Kelly goal put Cork one point ahead with time almost up, however, Terry Leahy proved to be the hero of the day. He converted a free to level the sides again before sending over the match-winner from the subsequent puck-out. With that the game was over and Lotty's side were beaten by 0–14 to 2–7. It was the fifth time that Kilkenny had pipped Cork by a single point in an All-Ireland final.

Lotty won a third National League medal at the start of 1948 following a 3–3 to 1–2 defeat of Tipperary. Cork later faced a one-point defeat by Waterford in the provincial decider.

A thrilling Munster quarter-final replay defeat by Tipperary in 1949 brought the curtain down on Lotty's inter-county career.

Inter-provincial

Lotty also had the honour of being selected for Munster in the inter-provincial series of games. He made his debut with the province in 1941, however, Munster faced a one-point defeat by Leinster in the final.^[6]

After an absence of six years Lotty was back on the Munster team once again. A 2–5 to 1–1 defeat by Connacht was Munster's lot once again.

Honours

Team

Cork

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (5): 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship (5): 1939, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1947
• National Hurling League (3): 1939–40, 1940–41, 1947–48
• All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship (1): 1938
• Munster Minor Hurling Championship (1): 1938

References