Please use registry variable for this case.

    <?php if (Mage::app()->getFrontController()->getRequest()->getControllerName() == 'category') : 
    if ($_category = Mage::registry('current_category')) :
    ?>
    <h1 class="title"><?php echo $_helper->categoryAttribute($_category, $_category->getName(), 'name') ?></h1>
    <?php echo $_category->getProductCollection()->getFirstItem()->getName(); ?>
    <?php endif; ?>
    <?php endif ;?>