Paddy Lanigan

Paddy "Icy" Lanigan (1881 – July 1945) was an Irish hurler who played as a left corner-back for the Kilkenny senior team.^[1]

Born in Tullogher, Lanigan first excelled at hurling in his youth. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty-three when he first linked up with the Kilkenny senior team. He made his senior debut during the 1904 championship. Lanigan went on the become a regular member of the team over the next decade, and won six All-Ireland medals and six Leinster medals.

At club level Lanigan was a two-time championship medallist with Erin's Own.

Lanigan retired from inter-county hurling following the conclusion of the 1914 championship.

In retirement from playing Lanigan became involved in team management and coaching. He was a selector with the Kilkenny senior team that claimed Leinster and All-Ireland honours in 1922, before later training a successful James Stephens team.

Playing career

Club

Lanigan joined the Erin's Own senior hurling team at the turn of the century and quickly became a regular member of the team.

In 1905 Erin's Own qualified for the senior championship decider for the first time in their history. A 5–6 to 2–8 defeat of Tullaroan gave Lanigan his first championship medal.

Two-in-a-row proved beyond Erin's Own, however, the team qualified for final again in 1909. Mooncoin provided the opposition, however, a 1–12 to 1–7 victory gave Lanigan his second championship medal.

Inter-county

Early successes

Lanigan joined the Kilkenny senior team in 1904. He subsequently collected his first Leinster medal as Kilkenny recorded a 2–8 to 2–6 defeat of Dublin in the provincial decider. The subsequent All-Ireland final was delayed until 24 June 1906, with three-in-a-row hopefuls Cork providing the opposition. It was the beginning of a hugely successful era for "the Cats" as Cork were heading into decline. A first half goal by Dick Doyle put Kilkenny in the driving seat, while goalkeeper Pat "Fox" Maher made a great save in the dying moments of the game to help Kilkenny to a 1–9 to 1–8 victory.^[2] It was Lanigan's and Kilkenny's first All-Ireland triumph.

In 1905 Lanigan won a second successive Leinster medal as Dublin were once again bested by 2–8 to 2–2. The subsequent All-Ireland final on 14 April 1907 saw Cork provide the opposition once again. The game was a high-scoring affair with Cork winning by 5–10 to 3–13. The game, however, had to be replayed as Cork goalkeeper Daniel McCarthy was a British army reservist and Kilkenny's Matt Gargan had earlier played with Waterford in the Munster championship. The replay was another high-scoring one, with Jimmy Kelly scoring 5–2 for Kilkenny. A puck-out by Cork's Jamesy Kelleher is said to have bounced and hopped over the Kilkenny crossbar. Kilkenny won the game by 7–7 to 2–9, with all seven of their goals coming in a thirty-minute spell.^[3] It was Lanigan's second All-Ireland medal.

Kilkenny lost their provincial crown to Dublin in 1906 as the Tullaroan players withdrew from the team in a dispute over the selection policy, however, the team returned in 1907 with Lanigan capturing a third Leinster medal following a 4–14 to 1–9 defeat of Dublin. On 21 June 1908 Kilkenny faced Cork in the All-Ireland decider for the third time in four years. A high-scoring, but close, game developed between these two great rivals once again. As the game entered the final stage there was little to separate the two sides. Jimmy Kelly scored three first-half goals while Jack Anthony scored Kilkenny's winning point at the death. Cork went on two late goal hunts, however, the final score of 3–12 to 4–8 gave Kilkenny the win. It was Lanigan's third All-Ireland medal. The game became the benchmark by which all subsequent All-Ireland performances were judged.

Kilkenny surrendered their provincial and All-Ireland titles in 1908 by refusing to take part in the competition, however, the team returned in 1909. A 5–16 to 2–7 trouncing of Laois gave Lanigan a fourth Leinster medal. The All-Ireland decider on 12 December 1909 pitted Kilkenny against Tipperary, a team that had never lost an All-Ireland final. Before the game itself there was internal fighting within the Kilkenny camp and a selection row left the team short of substitutes. In spite of this, the team still went on to win the game, courtesy of three goals by Bill Hennerby and a fourth by Jimmy Kelly. The 4–6 to 0–12 victory gave Lanigan a fourth All-Ireland medal.

Three-in-a-row

It would be another two years before Lanigan won his fifth Leinster medal. The 4–6 to 3–1 defeat of Dublin allowed 'the Cats' to advance to the All-Ireland series once again. Limerick provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland final on 18 February 1912, however, the pitch at the Cork Athletic Grounds was water-logged and the game was refixed for Thurles on 12 May 1912. Limerick were unable to attend the replay and Lanigan's fifth All-Ireland title was awarded to him rather than being won on the field of play. Kilkenny later defeated Tipperary in an alternative to the final, however, Limerick later defeated Kilkenny in a challenge game.

Lanigan won a sixth Leinster medal in 1912 following a 6–6 to 2–4 defeat of Laois. Yet another All-Ireland final appearance beckoned, with Cork providing the opposition on 17 November 1912. The game was an extremely close affair with Sim Walton proving himself to be the goal-scoring hero. A speculative Matt Gargan shot also hopped past the goalkeeper to give Kilkenny a narrow 2–1 to 1–3 victory. It was Lanigan's sixth All-Ireland medal.

Lanigan was dropped from the starting fifteen in 1913, however, he went on to collect another set of Leinster and All-Ireland medals as a non-playing substitute.^[4][5]

Decline

Lanigan retired from inter-county hurling following Kilkenny's defeat by Laois in the 1914 Leinster decider.

Coaching career

Inter-county

In 1922 Lanigan was a selector with the Kilkenny senior team. It was a successful season which saw the team claim the Leinster title for the first time in six years following a 3–4 to 1–2 defeat of Dublin. Under Lanigan's guidance the team later claimed the All-Ireland crown following a 4–2 to 2–6 defeat of Tipperary.

Club

Lanigan served as trainer of the James Stephens junior hurling team in 1924. A 5–5 to 1–0 defeat of Thomastown in a replay secured the junior championship.^[6]

Honours

Player

Erin's Own

• Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship (1): 1905, 1909

Kilkenny

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (7): 1904, 1905, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1912, 1913 (sub)
• Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (7): 1903, 1904, 1905, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1912, 1913 (sub)

Mentor

James Stephens

• Kilkenny Junior Hurling Championship (1): 1924

Kilkenny

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (1): 1922
• Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (1): 1922

References