Lotty's performances at minor level brought him to the attention of the Cork senior football team selectors and he was drafted onto the team during the 1938-39 National League. His inter-county football career was a brief one as he joined the Cork senior hurling team in advance of the 1939 Munster Championship and made his championship debut at left corner-back on 25 June 1939 in a 7-04 to 4-03 defeat of Waterford. Lotty subsequently claimed his first Munster Championship medal after a 4-03 to 3-04 victory over Limerick in the final. On 3 September 1939, he replaced Paddy O'Donovan at right corner-back when Cork suffered a 2-07 to 3-03 defeat by Kilkenny in the "thunder and Lightning" All-Ireland final.