Ó Dúlaing the main man for Dublin in Leinster U20 victory over Wexford

Dublin's Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing and Cathal Parker of Wexford. Picture: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

oneills.com Leinster U20 Hurling Championship quarter-final: Dublin 0-18 Wexford 0-14

Senior attacker Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing drilled nine points as Dublin came good with a final quarter burst to secure their Leinster U20 semi-final spot.

The 2020 champions found themselves deadlocked with 2023 finalists Wexford for the ninth time at 0-11 apiece after 42 minutes.

But seven points for the hosts from there, compared to just three from Wexford, eased Dublin through to next week's semi-finals.

Wexford will be frustrated with how the game slipped away from them in the closing quarter.

Free-taker Sean Rowley sniped six first-half points for the Model County, the last of which left them with a two-point lead approaching the interval, 0-8 to 0-6.

Dublin finished the half strongly with scores from Neil Hogan and two O Dulaing frees to take a narrow 0-9 to 0-8 lead at the interval.

The sides would be level twice more at 0-9 and 0-11 apiece and it looked set to be a close run thing throughout the entire second-half.

But four Dublin points in a row between the 46th and 49th minutes - from Ó Dúlaing, 3, and Ollie Gaffney - put the Sky Blues in the clear and they never looked in trouble after that.

Brendan Kenny drilled back-to-back points for the Metropolitans in the closing minutes, forcing Wexford to go for goals as they chased the game.

But they couldn't grab the major they needed and David Purcell's earlier goal chance for Dublin was the closest either team came to raising a green flag.

Dublin scorers: D O Dulaing (0-9, 7 frees, 1 65); N Hogan, J Conroy (0-3 each); B Kenny (0-2); O Gaffney (0-1).

Wexford scorers: S Rowley (0-6, 5 frees); S Roche (1 free), E Whelan (0-2 each); A Moran, E Wickham, C Parker, C Byrne (0-1 each).

Dublin: K Hogan; C Groarke, D Lucey, C Kennedy; B Kenny, C Dolan, E Keys; C O Riain, J Behan; O Gaffney, D O Dulaing, D Purcell; L Garrigan, N Hogan, J Conroy.

Subs: C Rock for Garrigan (h/t); C Stacey for Gaffney (52); C Newton for Hogan (55); F Murphy for Behan (57), D Bannan for Dolan (63).

Wexford: T Doyle; M Furlong, E Whelan, C O Tuama; D Daly O'Toole, C Roark, P Doyle; C Parker, D Purcell; E Wickham, C Byrne, A Moran; J Molloy, S Roche, S Rowley.

Subs: L Murphy for Parker (41); C Doyle for Purcell (49); B Asple for Daly O'Toole (50) 

Ref: P Dunne (Laois).