Alan Lotty
Encyclopedia
Alan Lotty 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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
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. 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. 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. 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.
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.
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.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
sportsperson. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Sarsfield's and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1949.
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 championshipCork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
in 1940, however, his side were defeated by a Jack Lynch
Jack Lynch
John Mary "Jack" Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland, serving two terms in office; from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979....
-led Glen Rovers
Glen Rovers GAA
Glen Rovers is a Cork-based Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Ballyvolane and Blackpool areas of Cork city, Ireland. The club was founded in 1916 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-Colours:...
team. In 1947 Lotty played his part in another county final with Sarsfield's. On that occasion St. Finbarr's
St. Finbarr's GAA
St. Finbarr's National Hurling and Football Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Togher area of Cork city, County Cork, Ireland....
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.
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 KerryKerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
by 9-3 yo 0-0 to take the Munster
Munster Minor Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Minor Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for the youngest competitors in the province of Munster in Ireland...
title. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
. 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
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
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
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
title following a 4-3 to 3-4 victory over Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
. Lotty later lined out in the subsequent All-Ireland final, one of the most memorable championship deciders of all-time. Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
provided the opposition on that occasion in a game that was played during a fierce thunder storm. World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was erupting all across Europe as Terry Leahy
Terry Leahy
Sir Terry Leahy is a former CEO of Tesco, the largest British supermarket chain.He lives in Cuffley, Hertfordshire, with his wife, Alison and his three children.- Early life :...
whipped over the winning point for Kilkenny, who won the game by 2-7 to 3-3.
Cork bounced back after this defeat in 1940, with Lotty collecting his first National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
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
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
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
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
turned into a rout thanks to contributing goals from Johnny Quirke
Johnny Quirke
Johnny Quirke was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1932 until 1946...
and Ted O'Sullivan. At the full-time whistel Cork had won by 5-11 to 0-6. It was one of the most one-sided championship deciders of all-time. This victory gave Lotty his first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in 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.
A defeat of Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
allowed Lotty add a second Munster title to his collection in 1943 before later contesting a third successive All-Ireland final with Cork. Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
, having already pulled off two of the biggest shocks in hurling by defeating Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
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. 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
Christy Ring
Nicholas Christopher Michael Ring , better known as Christy Ring, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Glen Rovers club from 1941 until 1967 and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1963. Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in...
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. 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. 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
Mossy O'Riordan
Maurice Francis "Mossy" O'Riordan was an Irish sportsperson who played hurling with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1940s and 1950s....
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.
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.
Provincial
Lotty also lined out with MunsterMunster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
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
Leinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
and Connacht
Connacht GAA
The Connacht Council are a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Connacht.-Constituent counties:*Galway*Leitrim*Mayo*Roscommon*Sligo-Special counties:...
respectively.
Cork
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
:- Winner (5): 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946
- Runner-up (2): 1939, 1947
- Munster Senior Hurling ChampionshipMunster Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
:- Winner (5): 1939, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1947
- Runner-up (2): 1940, 1948
- National Hurling LeagueNational Hurling LeagueThe National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
:- Winner (3): 1940, 1941, 1947
- All-Ireland Minor Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Minor Hurling ChampionshipThe GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
:- Winner (1): 1938
- Munster Minor Hurling ChampionshipMunster Minor Hurling ChampionshipThe Munster GAA Hurling Minor Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for the youngest competitors in the province of Munster in Ireland...
:- Winner (1): 1938