Tommy Langan
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Tomás | ||
| Sport | Gaelic football | ||
| Position | Full-forward | ||
| Born | 23 September 1921 Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland |
||
| Died | 22 September 1974 (aged 52) Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland |
||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Occupation | Garda Síochána | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
| 1939- | Ballycastle | ||
| Club titles | |||
| Mayo titles | 1 | ||
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
| 1943-1956 | Mayo | 31 (12-21) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Connacht titles | 5 | ||
| All-Irelands | 2 | ||
| NFL | 2 | ||
Thomas "Tommy" Langan (23 September 1921 – 22 September 1974) was an Irish Gaelic footballer who played as a centre-forward and as a full-forward for the Mayo senior team. He is regarded as the greatest Gaelic football full-forward of all-time.
Langan joined the team during the 1943 championship and was a regular member of the starting fifteen until his retirement following the conclusion of the 1956 championship. During that time he won two All-Ireland medals, five Connacht medals and two National League medals.
Langan was born in Ballymachugh, Ballycastle, County Mayo. 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 Championships 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.
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