The first intercounty game to be played and superbly organised in Skerries Harps saw Dublin come from eight points down to snatch victory at the death.  Boden's Fiona Ní Chorcoráin, Rachel Ruddy and Ciara Lucey all featured prominently in the display.

Dublin 4 – 6 Wexford 2 – 11

The All-Ireland champions brought the O’Duffy Cup to Skerries Harps for this Leinster Championship Semi Final and with 16 minutes of the second half played, they looked well on course for victory leading by 2 – 9 to 1 – 4. But games are of 60 minutes plus duration and Dublin showed commendable fighting spirit to outscore the visitors by 3 – 2 to 0 – 2 in the remaining 16 minutes.

Much of the focus will deservedly be on three-goals hero Sarah Ryan whose opportunism saw her hit the final goal in the second minute of added time to give Dublin the lead for only the second occasion in the game.

Wexford started with eleven of the 2007 All-Ireland winning team and will be feel that they didn’t deserve to lose. There forward line looked menacing at all stages and the excellent attendance at Skerries were treated to some superb play by the likes of Ursula Jacob and Una Leacy who accounted for 1 -7 of the Wexford tally. Full-back Catherine O'Loughlin was commanding her territory and at no stage looked like seeing four goals pass between her and 'keeper Mags D'arcy.

However their management will feel that at the stage when they were in complete control of Dublin a little bit of “showboating” cost them a few scores.

Manager David Kennedy made a few strategic moves that also helped Dublin’s cause. The re-positioning of Ciara Lucey to the half-back line; the introduction of Niamh Taylor and a superb final 20 minutes by Fiona Ní Chorcoráin saw Dublin take over in the middle third.

The Ballyboden St Endas girl struck an inspirational point from play in the 47th minute to be followed by Sarah Ryan’s second goal from close range two minutes later. The scoreline now stood at Wexford 2 – 9 Dublin 2 – 5 and eventhough the superb Ursula Jacob drove over another great point, Dublin’s confidence was growing.

With 53 minutes gone on the clock, Louise O’Hara was presented with a 35m from in front of the posts. The Dublin captain’s shot looked like it might just edge over the bar but at the last moment it dipped into the corner of the net and now Wexford were seriously rattled.

The half-back line was hurling superbly well with Rachel Ruddy, Aoife Cullen and Ciara Lucey defending stoutly. The midfield partnership of Louise O’Hara and Fiona Ní Chocoráin mixed class with graft and Dublin went in search of the equalizer. The pacey Ciara Burgess of Raheny drove over a great score from a tight angle to leave just the minimum between the sides as the crowd roared on the home side.

Niamh Taylor and Alison Maguire were winning possession and creating the chances but it looked like Dublin’s chance of securing at least a draw had vanished when Lenny Holohan (niece of former Wexford hurling star Jim) drove over a great point in the 61st minute.

However two points can be a treacherous lead going into the final minutes of a game. Crucially Dublin won the puck-out and worked the ball into the corner forward position where Joleen Hoary secured possession. Efforts to round her marker Claire O’Connor proved unsuccessful so the Good Counsel player floated the ball across the face of the goal where Aine Fanning was standing unmarked. Her effort for goal was stopped but Sarah Ryan was on hand to complete her hat-trick.

Wexford now trailed by a point and suddenly all eyes were on Referee Ciaran Quigley. Correctly there was still some time left. Dublin now had to defend with all their strength but the pressure was intense and when Eimear Brannigan cleared her lines, there smiles on the Dublin faces said it all.

Una Leacy opened the scoring after 2 minutes but three minutes later Joleen Hoary leveled with a fine point. Wexford were playing some slick forward play but their finishing was poor and in the first half they notched up six wides to Dublin’s two.

Goalkeeper Eimear Butler was also in fine form saving superbly from Katrina Parrock. and adding another crucial stop in the second half.

Somewhat against the run of play, Dublin went in front in the 15th minute when an attempt for goal from a free by Louise O’Hara was forced home by Sarah Ryan. A minute later Ciara Lucey drove over a 45 to give Dublin a 1 – 2 to 0 – 2 advantage.

That was as good as it got as Wexford upped their performance with Ursula Jacob proving quite a handful at full forward and the pacey Lenny Holohan goaling in the 21st minute.

But Dublin’s defence was playing soundly with Jean Murphy and Andrea Fitzpatrick showing very well at corner back and were well in the game at half-time on a scoreline of Wexford 1 – 5 to Dublin 1 – 2.

Dublin now advance to play Kilkenny in the Leinster Final and will be boosted by this performance ahead of next Sunday’s clash with Cork in Kilmacud Crokes in the National League.

Dublin: Eimear Butler, Jean Murphy, Eimear Brannigan, Andrea Fitzpatrick, Rachel Ruddy, Aoife Cullen, Caitriona Power, Fiona Ní Chorcoráin (0 – 1), Ciara Lucey (0 – 1), Ciara Burgess (0 – 1), Sarah Ryan (3 – 0), Alison Maguire, Joleen Hoary (0 – 1), Louise O’Hara (1 – 2), Edel Reid.

Subs: Niamh Taylor for Power; Clodagh Cooney for Reid; Aine Fanning for Burgess

Wexford: Mags D’arcy, Bernie Holohan, Catherine O’Loughlin, Claire O’Connor, Aoife O’Connor, Mary Leacy, Deirdre Codd, Brona Furlong, Michelle O’Leary, Kate Kelly (0 – 1), Rose-Marie Breen (0 – 1), Katrina Parrock, Una Leacy (0 – 3), Ursula Jacob (1 – 4), (1 – 2).

Subs: Louise Codd for Katrina Parrock (inj); Bridget Curran for O’Leary; Aine Codd for Deirdre Codd.

Referee: Ciaran Quigley (Kildare)