Tang GAA to celebrate 50th anniversary of intermediate success
Fifty years ago, Tang won the Westmeath Intermediate Football Championship for the first time, defeating Caulry in the final.
The 50th anniversary of this success will be marked by Tang GAA this Sunday, September 24 with a range of activities at Joe Fox Memorial Park.
The special event will commence with mass at the club pitch, staring at 10am, followed by a presentation to members of the successful 1973 Tang team or their representatives. This will be followed by refreshments and children's activities.
"All club members past and present are asked to make a special effort to attend and make this a fitting celebration to honour the heroes of 1973 and a special social event for the club and parish," said Tang GAA public relations officer Ben Lynn.
The 1973 intermediate decider was played at Páirc Chiaráin and was the first major county championship final to be played in Athlone for over 20 years.
Tang, who won the Westmeath junior title in 1971, had been defeated by Ballymore in the 1972 intermediate final and were looking to go one better on this occasion.
For Caulry's part, among their noted players were the Allens (Richie, Jack, Willie and Pat), James Fox, TP Hickey and Noel Nugent (a son of renowned former star Larry).
Tang won the game on a scoreline of 3-6 to 1-7 and were described as "worthy champions" in the Westmeath Independent report on the final. The South Westmeath derby decider was described as "a most enjoyable game".
With Vincent Fox scoring the game's first goal (set up by Michael Galvin), Tang led by 1-3 to 0-3 at half-time. Fox raised another green flag in the second half and a third goal, a solo effort from Tommy Lennon, sealed Tang's victory.
"From the very early stages of the game, it was obvious that Caulry were in trouble at centrefield where man of the match Tom Flanagan and the youthful Michael Galvin were in complete control. Although Caulry tried numerous switches to curb Tang's dominance in this sector, it was to no avail," stated the Westmeath Independent report.
"Tang were also very strong in defence, where Paddy Lennon and Dermot Carey were outstanding," said the report, while the attacking displays of Tommy Lennon, Vincent Fox and JJ Flanagan also came in for favourable comment.
On the Caulry side, defenders Jack Allen, Tom Seery and Willie Allen and forwards Pat Allen, Noel Nugent and Georgie Hatton led the way for the Mount Temple men.
Tang were captained by the aforementioned Dermot Carey and the team also included future Westmeath GAA chairman Tom Farrell.
The Tang team manager was Joe Smyth (Tang National School Principal), with Larry Coughlan and Joe Fox Snr (also the then club chairman) the selectors.
Afterwards, Dermot Carey was presented with the intermediate championship trophy by Westmeath County Board chairman Fr Patrick Mackin.
Returning to recent events, Tang won the Westmeath intermediate title in 2021 and have competed at senior level for the past two years. Indeed, the men in maroon and white reached this year's senior championship quarter-finals.
1973 Westmeath IFC final: Tang 3-6 Caulry 1-7
Scorers for Tang: Vincent Fox 2-0; Tommy Lennon 1-3 (0-3 frees); Michael Galvin, Tom Farrell and Tommy Murray 0-1 each.
Tang: Mervyn English; Joe Moran, Paddy Lennon, Ben Duncan; Joe McDonagh, Dermot Carey (captain), Joe Fox: Tom Flanagan, Michael Galvin; Tom Farrell, Tommy Lennon, Tom Keenan; Vincent Fox, JJ Flanagan, Tommy Murray. Subs: Francie Donoghue, Eamon Carey, Joe Carey, Stephen Flanagan, Mick Higgins, Johnny Rock, Eddie Rock, Ben Lynn, Seamus McCormack.