Tommy Langan
Encyclopedia
Tommy Langan was an Irish Gaelic football
er from County Mayo
. He played for the Ballycastle
club and the Mayo GAA
county team.
. Despite his youth, Langan helped Ballycastle
to win the Mayo senior championship of 1937. In 1938, he made his first appearance for Mayo's minor team in the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
. Five years later, he made his senior debut, playing at centre-half-forward.
Langan was at his best during Mayo's golden period from 1948 to 1955, as they won five Connacht Senior Football Championship
s and two All-Irelands. Langan's first All-Ireland Final]] was in 1948, but a strong Cavan team
beat Mayo by one point. In 1950, Langan was selected at full-forward for the first time in the All-Ireland semi-final against Armagh
. He scored two goals in a Mayo win. Mayo also won the final against Louth, and Langan had his first All-Ireland medal. From then on, he won fame as one of the greatest full-forwards in football history.
Langan's fielding and goals were again crucial in 1951. Mayo won the Connacht championship for the fourth successive time and advanced to the All-Ireland seni-final against Kerry. With Mayo behind in injury-time, Langan was switched to full-forward against the great Kerry full-back Paddy Bawn Brosnan
. He scored a vital goal and Mayo went on to force a replay, which they won. They completed their second consecutive All-Ireland title by beating Meath by five points in the final, with Langan netting another fine goal.
Langan also represented Connacht
in the Railway Cup, earning a winner's medals against Munster in the 1951 Final.
Langan's last appearance in county football was against Galway
in the Connacht Championship of 1956. He retired following Galway's victory in that game.
detective in Dublin at the time of his death in 1974, on the eve of his 53rd birthday. He was named on the Football Team of the Century in 1984 and on the Football Team of the Millennium. On 16 September 1984, the Tom Langan Park was officially opened by Dr. M. Loftus, then President-elect of the G.A.A. It remains the home ground of the local Ballycastle club.
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er from County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
. He played for the Ballycastle
Ballycastle
Ballycastle can refer to:*Ballycastle, County Antrim, a small town in Northern Ireland*Ballycastle, County Mayo, a village in the Republic of Ireland...
club and the Mayo GAA
Mayo GAA
The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo inter-county teams.-History:...
county team.
Playing career
Langan was born in Ballymachugh, Ballycastle, County MayoBallycastle, County Mayo
Ballycastle is a village in County Mayo, Ireland, situated northwest from Ballina, near Mayo's north coast in the West of Ireland. Ballycastle is also on the edge of an Irish speaking area called a Gaeltacht....
. Despite his youth, Langan helped Ballycastle
Ballycastle
Ballycastle can refer to:*Ballycastle, County Antrim, a small town in Northern Ireland*Ballycastle, County Mayo, a village in the Republic of Ireland...
to win the Mayo senior championship of 1937. In 1938, he made his first appearance for Mayo's minor team in the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
The All-Ireland Minor Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for under-18 competitors of the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
. Five years later, he made his senior debut, playing at centre-half-forward.
Langan was at his best during Mayo's golden period from 1948 to 1955, as they won five Connacht Senior Football Championship
Connacht Senior Football Championship
The Bank of Ireland Connacht Senior Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football competition for the senior county teams of Connacht GAA. A series of games are played during the summer months and the final is played in July....
s and two All-Irelands. Langan's first All-Ireland Final]] was in 1948, but a strong Cavan team
Cavan GAA
The Cavan County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Cavan GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Cavan...
beat Mayo by one point. In 1950, Langan was selected at full-forward for the first time in the All-Ireland semi-final against Armagh
Armagh GAA
The Armagh County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Armagh GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Armagh...
. He scored two goals in a Mayo win. Mayo also won the final against Louth, and Langan had his first All-Ireland medal. From then on, he won fame as one of the greatest full-forwards in football history.
Langan's fielding and goals were again crucial in 1951. Mayo won the Connacht championship for the fourth successive time and advanced to the All-Ireland seni-final against Kerry. With Mayo behind in injury-time, Langan was switched to full-forward against the great Kerry full-back Paddy Bawn Brosnan
Paddy Bawn Brosnan
Paddy Bawn Brosnan was an Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Dingle and was a member of the Kerry senior inter-county team from 1940 until 1952.-References:-Teams:...
. He scored a vital goal and Mayo went on to force a replay, which they won. They completed their second consecutive All-Ireland title by beating Meath by five points in the final, with Langan netting another fine goal.
Langan also represented 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:...
in the Railway Cup, earning a winner's medals against Munster in the 1951 Final.
Langan's last appearance in county football was against 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,...
in the Connacht Championship of 1956. He retired following Galway's victory in that game.
Post-Retirement
Tom Langan was a GardaGarda
Garda may refer to:* An Garda Síochána, the national police of the Republic of Ireland* Lake Garda, a lake in northern Italy.* Garda , a commune on the shores of the Italian Lake Garda in the province of Verona....
detective in Dublin at the time of his death in 1974, on the eve of his 53rd birthday. He was named on the Football Team of the Century in 1984 and on the Football Team of the Millennium. On 16 September 1984, the Tom Langan Park was officially opened by Dr. M. Loftus, then President-elect of the G.A.A. It remains the home ground of the local Ballycastle club.
External links
- http://www.hoganstand.com/general/champs/millennium.aspx
- http://archives.tcm.ie/westernpeople/2002/04/17/story9298.asp
- http://www.goldenlangan.com/tomlangan.html
- http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0913/kerryvmayo.html
- Ballad of Tom Langan
- Bio, photos and ancestry of Tom Langan