James Langton (18 January 1918 – 18 April 1987) was an Irish hurler who usually played as a left wing-forward for the Kilkenny senior team.
As a member of the Leinster inter-provincial team for fourteen years, Langton won two Railway Cup medals.
Langton's career tally of 15 goals and 146 points was a record score for a Kilkenny player which stood for twenty years when it was surpassed by Eddie Keher.
[4] Langton played his club hurling with Éire Óg and enjoyed much success in a career that spanned three decades.
Éire Óg failed to retain their championship crown in 1940, while Carrickshock defeated the team in the county showpiece in 1942.
Langton lined out in his fourth championship decider in 1944, with old rivals and five-in-a-row hopefuls Carrickshock providing the opposition once again.
Éire Óg reached the final again in 1945 and were presented with the chance of making their own piece of history by retaining the title.
While a draw looked likely as the hour drew to a close, Paddy Phelan sent a seventy-yard free in towards the Cork goalmouth.
He secured a second successive Leinster medal that year, as Kilkenny retained their provincial crown following a 3–6 to 2–5 defeat of Dublin.
The subsequent All-Ireland decider on 1 September 1940 brought Kilkenny and Limerick together for the last great game between the two outstanding teams of the decade.
Early in the second-half Kilkenny took a four-point lead, however, once Mick Mackey was deployed at midfield he proceeded to dominate the game.
While many expected Langton's side to brush the Ulster challenge aside, a record crowd at Corrigan Park witnessed one of the biggest shocks in the history of the championship.
With ten minutes remaining Cork's lead was reduced to just two points, however, goals by Mossy O'Riordan and Joe Kelly secured a 7–6 to 3–8 victory and a third All-Ireland final defeat for Langton.
A Joe Kelly goal put Cork one point ahead with time almost up, however, Terry Leahy proved to be the hero of the day.
It was the fifth time that Kilkenny had pipped Cork by a single point in the championship decider, while it also resulted in Langton winning a second All-Ireland medal.
In a dull affair, Tipp looked to be heading for victory when Seán Kenny scored a goal to put the team four points ahead with just one minute left to play.
Kilkenny fought back and a Jimmy Kelly goal from the puck-out reduced the deficit to just one point again.
A narrow 2–5 to 2–4 victory gave Langton his first Railway Cup medal, while it denied the southern province a remarkable fifth successive title.
That year he was presented with the All-Time All-Star award, while he was also chosen at left wing-forward on the Hurling Team of the Century.