After narrowly avoiding relegation to the junior ranks in 2006, Tang showed a marked improvement last year to reach the intermediate championship semi-final. They also won Division 3 of the All-County League and regained the Galvin Cup after a 10-year lapse, much to the delight of club chairman Joe Fox. Tang have much to be encouraged about after a very successful 2007 which saw the Longford-border outfit surpass all expectations by qualifying for the intermediate football championship semi-final as well as winning Division 3 of the All-County League and the club's very own Galvin Cup. Having only avoided relegation to the junior ranks in 2006 by virtue of a one-point victory over Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall, Tang were a transformed team last season under their new manager Sean Burke, and according to chairman Joe Fox, are determined to build on that progress in the year ahead. "Our target is to get to the final and try to win it," he says. "This time last year we were a struggling intermediate club but it's amazing the difference a year can make. Such has been our improvement over the past 12 months that I think a county final appearance is a realistic goal for us this year." Joe, who is in his second year as chairman, takes particular encouragement from the emergence of new players and the overall attitude of the team. "The young lads who came in did very well and they can only get better over the next few years. They got great support from some of the older lads, like Paul Conway and Padraig Reilly, whose experience and leadership qualities proved invaluable. "It was also good to see such a great spirit in the camp. Sean Burke had a very good first year in charge and he deserves a lot of credit for instilling a winning mentality and putting us back on the right track." Longford native Burke, who had been involved with successful Maryland/Tang and Shannon Gaels teams in previous years, made a winning start to his tenure as Tang manager when leading them to a surprise 2-11 to 1-8 victory over a fancied Shandonagh in their championship opener at Hogan Park, Moate. The maroon and whites dominated the exchanges and played with the type of fluency that they had been sorely missing in previous years. Tang laid the foundations for their win in the early stages when a brace of goals from Tommy McCormack put them firmly in the driving seat. They went on to lead by 2-5 to 0-3 at half-time, and despite conceding a goal early in the second half, they held on for a comfortable win. County panellist Robert English was very impressive in the defeat of Shandonagh, so it came as a huge blow to Tang when he suffered a cruciate ligament injury while playing for Westmeath in a challenge game against Kildare which effectively ruled him out for the rest of the season. Tang were also missing Niall Bannon, Alan Higgins and Dean Reddin for their second round clash with Moate All-Whites in Athlone, and such losses were surely a factor in their 1-7 to 1-9 defeat. Moate got off to the perfect start when Michael Broder goaled inside the first 30 seconds. But Tang were back on level terms after 10 minutes thanks to Thomas McCormack's third goal in two games. Denis Bannon put them ahead in the 12th minute, but with Ger Heavin in unerring form from placed balls, Moate fought back to lead by three points at the break. Moate continued to hold a three-point cushion until scores from McCormack and Bannon reduced the deficit to the minimum, 1-7 to 1-8, with 12 minutes remaining. However, they were unable to regain parity and Michael Broder made victory safe for the All-Whites with a late point. Tang's chances of reaching the knockout stages suffered another setback when they succumbed to Kilbeggan Shamrocks by 2-6 to 1-10 in miserable conditions at Cusack Park. There wasn't much between the teams in the opening half, but a late Keith Gorry goal helped Kilbeggan to a 1-6 to 1-4 interval advantage. That score really spurred on Kilbeggan and by the end of the third quarter, they were six points clear and seemingly coasting. However, Tang refused to wilt and in a dramatic finish, substitute Aidan Burke netted to leave the minimum in it. The Longford-border side had two late chances to salvage something from the game, but both were missed, allowing Kilbeggan to hang on for a narrow win. Sean Burke's charges responded to that defeat with an emphatic 2-15 to 0-7 victory over St. Mary's at Castletown-Geoghegan. In a game that saw three players receive their marching orders (two from St. Mary's), Tang never looked back after Paul Conway set up Alan Higgins for their first goal on eight minutes. A second goal from Colm Conlon helped Tang to a 2-7 to 0-4 interval lead, and it continued to be one-way traffic for much of the second half with Niall Bannon, Alan Higgins, Paul Conway and Thomas McCormack all getting on their scoresheet. Tang's third victory of the campaign - against Caulry - sealed their place in the knockout stages. The maroon and whites got off to a flying start when they scored 1-1 in the opening three minutes, the goal coming from Aidan Burke. The game looked over as a contest at half-time with Tang ahead by 1-9 to 0-3, but Caulry came storming back in the second half and had reduced the deficit to four points, 0-10 to 1-11, at the final whistle. In their quarter-final joust with Ballymore, Tang looked out of it when they trailed by 0-0 to 1-4 after 18 minutes. But, in an amazing turnabout, the south county outfit fought back to triumph by 0-9 to 1-4, with Ballymore failing to score in the remaining 42 minutes. With Denis Bannon in fine form, Tang recovered from the early Ballymore onslaught to trail by 0-3 to 1-4 at half-time. Rising star Tommy McCormack eventually brought Tang level and they completed the comeback with late points from Bannon and sub Aidan Burke. Tang travelled to Castletown-Geoghegan for their last four clash with Ballinagore. The Brosnasiders made a great start when Michael Ennis and Dan Gavin notched early points. David Deegan made it 0-3 to 0-0 before Tang eventually opened their account in the 12th minute. Further scores from Gavin and Ennis increased Ballinagore's lead and despite efforts in reply from Alan Higgins and Niall Bannon, they trailed by four points at the break. The second half was a poor quality affair with both sides guilty of scrappy play. It was the 53rd minute before Michael Ennis lifted the game from its malaise with a sublime run and point that was totally at odds with what had gone before. Tang replied with points from Tommy McCormack and Niall Bannon, but they couldn't get any closer than three points as a resolute Ballinagore held on for a 0-10 to 0-7 victory. "We had a very good championship, considering we were so young and had Robert English and Greg Carey missing through injury. Robert had a fantastic game against Shandonagh and he was sorely missed after he got injured. "Overall, good progress was made and I would have no hesitation in saying it was our best year since we lost the 2002 intermediate final to Tubberclair," adds Fox, who was part of Tang's respective 1971 and '73 junior and intermediate championship winning sides. Earlier in the year, Tang regained the Galvin Cup after a 10-year lapse following a 2-6 to 0-10 victory over neighbours Tubberclair. First half goals from Eamon Carey and Denis Bannon gave the home side a 2-4 to 0-4 half-time lead, and despite only adding two points to their tally in the second half, they held on for victory. Eight teams competed in last year's Galvin Cup - Ballymore, Milltown, Rosemount, Caulry, Ballynacargy, Tubberclair, Maryland and Tang. One of Tang's finest achievements in 2007 was their capture of the All-County League Division 3 title. Sean Burke's men racked up nine straight wins over Ballinagore, Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall, Caulry, St. Joseph's, Milltown, Rosemount, Loughnavalley, Ballycomoyle and St. Paul's to top the division. Tang will once again be managed by Sean Burke in 2008, but there is a change to his backroom team which sees Willie Flanagan replace Anthony Gill as selector. Denis Bannon will continue as Burke's other selector. Joe Fox is looking forward to the new campaign with great optimism, and admits that he will be disappointed if Tang don't make a strong bid for intermediate honours. "Tubberclair will be most people's favourites to win the intermediate championship, but if we can build on the progress we made last year and continue to show the same level of enthusiasm, we should be there or thereabouts," he concludes. The Tang team which defeated Tubberclair in the Galvin Cup final was: Michael Galvin; Damien Gill, Greg Carey, Mike Bannon; Michael McKnight, Colm Donoghue, Kieran Duncan; Colm Conlon, Joe Conlon; Padraig Reilly, Alan Higgins, Eamon Carey; Denis Bannon, Paul Conway (captain), Derek Higgins. Subs: Dean Reddin, Alan Murray, Brendan Donoghue, Aidan Burke, Dermot Bannon, Sean Egan. Tweet

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