Dublin trailed by five points, 1-4 to 1-9, early in the second half but went on to win this thrilling game before an attendance of 4,000 at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, on Saturday.

The switch of full forward Brian McEvoy to midfield when the game seemed to be going against Dublin crowded the area and broke the Wexford monopoly. Dublin went on to score six points without reply, and Wexford, who had finished the first half with a brilliant goal from left corner forward Graham McCarthy, and added three quick points from play after the resumption, faltered. Dublin made certain of victory with a well-taken close-range goal from Sean McCann in the 55th minute.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; A Holly, N Cleere, N O'Driscoll; A Brogan (0- 1), P Casey, A Cleary; C Murphy (0-1), K Devine (0-1); S McCann (1-1), L O'Heneghan (0-4), C O'Driscoll (1-1); S Mills (0-4), B McEvoy, G Joyce. Sub: J Waldron for C O'Driscoll.

WEXFORD: P Cooney; J Dunbar, W Delaney, R Mageean; M Sheehan, David Murphy (0-1), N Murphy; E Bradley (0-1), Diarmuid Kinsella (0-3); Darragh Murphy (0-3), B Byrne (0-2), JJ Doyle; L Murphy (0-1), K Smith, G McCarthy (1-1).

Referee: E Whelan (Laois).