Last year saw Lixnaw cause a huge surprise in Kerry hurling circles as they defeated a highly fancied Kilmoyley side to lift the county senior hurling championship title. Club sponsors Mike and Manus Kelliher revealed that the success came about after many years hard work. Like all clubs, Lixnaw rely on the energy and enthusiasm of a certain few to ensure that everything, from the many teams concerned to all the off field activities, are looked after. In recent years, there has been a greater emphasis placed on the club's underage sector, which has paid dividends with success being obtained on an annual basis. Indeed, 2007 was a huge year for the area as both local football teams Finuge and divisional outfit Feale Rangers won their respective championships. Of course, football is the number one sport in Kerry and the record books verify that fact with the amount of titles won at all grades down through the years. However, Lixnaw is in a hurling stronghold and the standard of club hurling within the county is of a very high quality indeed, which may surprise many outside of Kerry. Ironically, the county's first All-Ireland championship win was in hurling. Only club teams were allowed in 1891 and this remains Kerry's only hurling title. After the game the rules were changed to allow selected county teams into the Championship. Kerry's only notable achievement in modern times occurred in the 1993 Munster championship when John Meyler's Kerry team shocked Waterford hurlers by a score of 4-13 to 3-13. It was reward for years of progress which included a draw with Kilkenny in the League. Kerry followed it up in 1995 with their most famous ever League victory, a win over newly crowned All-Ireland champions Clare. Lixnaw have always provided many players to the county team and Mike admits that the club is proud of any player that dons the green and gold of Kerry. "The club prides itself on looking after they young players and I've seen this at first hand as my sons play at underage level. Little things like giving the teams' crisps and minerals after games help keep the interest going and the young lads can't wait for the next game," said Mike. "Travelling arrangements are always looked after, while the coaching is very good as all the people looking after the various teams are highly trained. There is a big catchment area here as it is one of the biggest parishes in Kerry, so that means there are a huge number of children to be looked after in training and at games, but you have to give credit to the people concerned, they do an amazing job." The North Kerry outfit showed their intent on winning the county senior hurling championship last year by appointing former Offaly and Limerick manager Eamon Cregan. "It was great to see Eamon Cregan being made manager last year. His experience was invaluable to the side and his influence played a huge part in their success. "Of course when you appoint a high profile manager like that, you have to have the funds necessary to back him and the club works very hard to raise finances throughout the year." They admitted that he had no problem in sponsoring Lixnaw when asked and he revealed that he is delighted to have their company adorn the club's jerseys. "We're the main sponsor for the next three years and if the next two are as good as last year then we will be very happy. Not only did the club win the senior title, but they also won a number of underage titles, which was very satisfying to see." Lixnaw won their first senior hurling title way back in 1934 and have added a further six titles to their roll of honour since then, while they have suffered their fair share of defeats in deciders down through the years as well. "There is a great tradition of hurling here. In North Kerry there are about seven or eight clubs, while the rest would be in the south of the county. Club hurling is very strong down here and although the teams have failed to progress in the Munster club championship, they have generally given a good account of themselves." Mike follows the fortunes of the club very closely indeed, despite having never played hurling, but he did play football with local side St Fintan's in his younger days, while his brother and business partner was also a noted footballer. "I played a bit of football years back, but my brother Marcus was fairly handy it and he was actually part of the last Kerry squad to win an All-Ireland minor football title back in 1994." The brothers set up Kingdom Tarmac Ltd back in December, 2006 and Mike revealed that the business has been growing at a steady rate ever since. "I was a block layer before we started the business. A new tar plant opened up just down the road from us called Kerry Tarmacadam and I was interested in what they do. So, we went down one day to talk to the lads and it just took off from there really. "The fact that there is no real competition around here means that we are kept very busy and have enough work to keep us going for the time being." The slow down in the building trade has done little to affect Kingdom Tarmacadam as Mike admitted that there will always be a need for their product. "We work on many new developments for both the private and public sector, but we don't rely on new projects to keep us going. For home owners that are in houses for ten or 20 years, they too look to tarmac their drive ways. In some cases it will be put down for the first time, while in other jobs, we may have to redo a job that was done years ago." Mike and Marcus currently employ four people full time, although that looks to expand in the very near future. Tweet

Most Read Stories