HAVING already taken the Co championship title Kilshannig Minor B Hurlers remain on course for a Co league and championship double when they defeated a brave St Marks outfit in the county league semifinal at Meelin on Saturday.

The game was keenly contested for long periods with the sides deadlocked on four occasions entering the final quarter. However it was Kilshannig who showed the greater scoring threat up front throughout and they were to finish the stronger side and helped by a goal from Frank McCarthy in the 47th minute they held out for a close but deserved win in the end.

The opening stages saw the sides level at 0-1 each before Kilshannig began to gain a firm grip on proceedings with Damian Murphy, Wesley McMahon, Killian O'Hanlon, Jack O'Regan, Pat Lucey and Barry O'Hanlon all starting in a very positive manner and by the 16th minute they surged into a 0-5 to 0-2 advantage.

St Mark's gradually began to find their feet and were to do rather well for the rest of the half. Barry O'Hanlon and Eamon Brosnan traded a number of pointed frees before good work by Frank McCarthy and Barry O'Hanlon led to Patrick Lucey putting the North Cork side double scores in front in the 26th minute 08 to 0-4.

However the Meelin/Freemount side were to come right back into contention just before the break when a good delivery by Daniel O'Callaghan led to Donal O'Callaghan finishing to the net from close range and at the break they were to trail by just a point 0-8 to 1-4.

For the second half the home side were quick into their stride with Eamon Brosnan, Aidan O'Flynn, Brendan O'Sullivan and T.J Brosnan all very impressive and helped by early scores from Eamon Brosnan and Aidan O'Flynn they were to take the lead for the first time at 1-6 to 0-8.

In an exciting half Kilshannig levelled matters when Barry O'Hanlon pointed a long free while the game was also evenly poised at 1-7 to 0-10 when Eamon Brosnan and Barry O'Hanlon had points by the 44th minute. Both teams battled hard for supremacy in the last quarter.

Kilshannig were to strike for a crucial score moments later when a long delivery by Damian Murphy led to Frank McCarthy scoring a goal from a very tight angle. Over the next couple of minutes both teams traded a point to make it 1-11 to 1-8 with 11 minutes remaining.

St Mark's refused to panic and they forced the Kilshannig defence to concede a number of frees that were punished by Eamon Brosnan that cut the lead down to the narrowest of margins.

With extra time looming St Marks were unable to get the equalising score and instead it was Kilshannig that sealed the issue with an injury time point from Stephen Murray to ensure a Co league final meeting against Ahan Gaels

KILSHANNIG: M Twomey, D McCarthy, R O'Mahony, A Cronin, W McMahon, D Murphy, P Cronin, J O'Regan (0-1), P Lucey (0-1), F McCarthy (1-1), B O'Hanlon (0-7, 6f), K O'Hanlon, B Sheehan, S Murray (0-2), D Clogan.

ST MARKS: J O'Callaghan, C O'Riordan, TJ Brosnan, T Keating, S O'Mullane, B O'Sullivan, John Patrick Murphy, C Aherne, E Brosnan (0-9, 7f, 1 '65), Daniel O'Callaghan, D Jones, Donal O'Callaghan 1-0, D O'Riordan, A O'Flynn (0-1), M Geaney.