Dublin 1-17 Wexford 2-10: The great thing about destiny is you never know when it's going to strike. With an hour played in yesterday's Leinster football semi-final - just as Dublin surged again to get level with Wexford - Jason Sherlock produced a slick one-two with his old Na Fianna team-mate Senan Connell and finished it off with a cracking goal. And it had destiny written all over it.

Sherlock had been dropped after Dublin beat Meath two weeks ago, and that seemed to sever the last tie with their All-Ireland success of 1995. The young Mark Vaughan was given the chance to complete the changing of the guard, but when Dublin fell behind by a point at half-time, manager Paul Caffrey wasn't long calling Sherlock back into the action.

Sherlock's introduction didn't turn the game in Dublin's favour, but his goal did. Several other Dublin players were in the hunt for that goal, but only Sherlock could score it - like he was destiny's darling. Then for the last 10 minutes Dublin, despite losing Ciarán Whelan for a second booking, easily handled whatever Wexford could throw at themand took their own game to fresh heights. In the end their four-point victory was well deserved.

It was all so different for the first hour. In a game that remained fantastically exciting throughout, Wexford controlled matters for long and crucial periods, specially those before and after half-time. They had fallen into a five-point deficit inside the first 20 minutes, but then scored four unanswered points and converted a penalty to edge two points clear. In the process they produced some of the finest football ever played by a Wexford team in Croke Park.

And yet it still just wasn't enough to put Dublin away. Matty Forde came away with just 0-3 after his name, and he'd be the first person to admit that was disappointing. Of course, Forde is only as good as the ball sent into him, but his finishing was sometimes uncharacteristically off.

Still, just like they proved against Meath, this Dublin team have definitely found inner resolve. Their reserves of fitness probably told in the end as well, but once Sherlock's goal went in, Wexford heads dropped somewhat. Dublin had earlier spent time in the panic room, but never wilted.

No one knows just how much the pressure of the occasion got to the Wexford players, but it must have been a factor. The crowd of 82,072 had slightly diminished by the time the game reached its climax, but the atmosphere was always that of a major contest, assisted by the glorious sunshine. If this weather persists, God knows how they'll satisfy the Dublin and Laois fans for the final on July 17th.

For now, though, what will satisfy Caffrey and the Dublin management most is the nature of the victory, and how it contrasted yet again with the wins over Longford and Meath. It wasn't always the prettiest of football, and both teams produced their share of errors, yet some of the bigger Dublin playmakers this time were the ones carrying question marks next to their names from the last day, and none more so than Tomás Quinn.

Quinn hit seven frees out of seven. He calmly converted a 45 and delivered one majestic point from play early on just as Dublin threatened to walk all over Wexford. The St Vincent's player hardly put a foot wrong all afternoon, and played a crucial role in keeping them in the game just when it seemed Wexford were about to walk all over Dublin.

Colin Moran and Bryan Cullen also enjoyed a better afternoon, collecting 0-2 apiece, with Moran then called ashore to make way for Sherlock.

Connell was introduced for Vaughan at half-time, and the strength of Dublin's bench once again proved invaluable. Whelan didn't quite recapture his Meath form, but he did fire over the opening score before having his game cut short on 61 minutes for a second booking.

Barry Cahill did produce another storming performance at centre back, but Dublin's defence was unsettled after half an hour when Stephen O'Shaughnessy was stretchered off with a dislocated shoulder, ending his season in the process.

Four of Quinn's scores helped put Dublin ahead 0-7 to 0-2 after 20 minutes. Without much warning, Wexford hit straight back, as if desperation suddenly brought out the best in them.

Redmond Barry started covering vast amounts of ground and Nicky Lambert and David Fogarty took command of midfield. For the rest of the half Dublin's backs were to the wall.

On 30 minutes PJ Banville was sent clean through to the Dublin goalmouth by Forde with only Stephen Cluxton to beat, but somehow his shot flew over the bar rather than under it.

Moments later, though, Diarmuid Kinsella was pulled down by Coman Goggins in the same area, and referee Brian Crowe correctly called the penalty. Barry stepped up instead of Forde, and faced a wall of whistles that was Hill 16. Though Cluxton stopped the first shot, Barry swooped in for the rebound and Wexford were 1-6 to 0-7 in the clear.

Quinn added another free before the break, but clearly Dublin needed to charge again come the second half. Instead they let Banville clean through for a goal after just 60 seconds.

Luckily for Dublin the response was swift - starting with a fine score from Conal Keaney. For 25 minutes the game hovered in uncertain territory before Cullen levelled on 59 minutes.

And that's when destiny struck. Cullen started the move that was first flicked on by Quinn, and then finished off by Connell and Sherlock. Dublin didn't look back after that score.

The blue bandwagon had regained its momentum and there was no way Wexford could stop it now.

DUBLIN: 1 S Cluxton; 2 P Griffin, 3 P Christie, 4 S O'Shaughnessy; 7 C Goggins, 6 B Cahill, 5 P Casey; 8 C Whelan (0-1), 9 S Ryan; 10 C Moran (0-2), 11 A Brogan (0-1), 12 B Cullen (0-2); 13 M Vaughan, 14 C Keaney (0-1), 15 T Quinn (0-10, seven frees, one 45) Subs: 17 P Andrews for O'Shaughnessy (32 mins, inj), 19 S Connell for Vaughan (half-time), J Sherlock (1-0) for Moran (50 mins), 18 D Homan for Ryan (66 mins).

WEXFORD: 1 J Cooper; 2 C Morris, 3 P Wallace, 4 N Murphy; 5 P Curtis, 7 K Kennedy (0-2), 6 D Murphy; 8 N Lambert, 9 D Fogarty (0-1); 10 R Barry (1-1, a penalty), 12 S Cullen, 11 D Kinsella; 13 PJ Banville (1-2), 14 P Colfer, 15 M Forde (0-3, two frees). Subs: 18 J Hudson for Colfer (half-time), 21 D Foran for Banville (55 mins), 17 D Breen for Curtis (57 mins), 23 J Darcy for Lambert (62 mins).

Referee: B Crowe (Cavan).