Fourteen-man Dublin survived a Croke Park scare to book their place in the Leinster SFC final, 2-11 to 1-10.
Redmond Barry stunned the All-Ireland champions with a ninth-minute goal, and while Diarmuid Connolly responded with a goal in 22 minutes, three Ben Brosnan points helped Wexford to a 1-08 to 1-05 interval lead.
Connolly received a straight red card, but Dublin went back in front with Kevin McManamon’s goal on 52 minutes.
Wasteful Wexford were punished by late scores from McManamon, Kevin Nolan and Bryan Cullen.
The Dubs are now set to renew an age-old rivalry with a resurgent Meath side, who shocked Kildare in the other semi-final, but they were less than convincing in front of a crowd of 47,961.
Barry stunned the holders with a ninth minute goal, sidestepping Michael Fitzsimons and Rory O’Carroll to plant a low shot past Stephen Cluxton.
The Model county held on to their lead for most of the opening half, with Graeme Molloy nad Adrain Flynn defending with discipline.
Ben Brosnan thumped over three glorious points, but they were rocked by a Dublin goal in the 22nd minute.
Kevin McManamon slipped the ball to Diarmuid Connolly, who beat Anthony Masterson with a precision finish to the bottom corner of the net.
But it wasn’t all going so smoothly for the Dublin attack, anad particularly Bernard Brogan, who just couldn’t get a shot on target, and when he was sent clear by James McCarthy in the 26th minute, Masterson denied the former Footballer of the Year with a splendid save.
McManamon and Bryan Cullen did hit the target to bring the Sam Maguire Cup holders level, but Brosnan’s pace and trickery was causing all sorts of problems for the Dubs’ defence, and Jason Ryan’s men hit three stoppage time points, including another Brosnan special, to go in at the break leading by 1-8 to 1-5.
In a sensational start to the second half, Dublin goalscorer Connolly was shown a straight red card for aiming a punch at Brian Malone, but the depleted champions began to show their mettle, pulling back points through Stephen Cluxton, Bernard Brogan (frees) and Kevin Nolan to go level by the 45th minute.
The introduction of Michael Darragh Macauley gave them more thrust around midfield, and after Flynn and Roche had shot Wexford back in front, Dublin hit back with a second goal.
Paul Flynn’s free found Bernard Brogan, who sent McManamon in to blast to the roof of the net on 52 minutes for a one point lead.
Brosnan’s earlier accuracy deserted him as Wexford’s energy and dash failed to gain them any reward during a period of supremacy, a rash of wides allowing the Dubs off the hook.
The Model men shot nine wides in the second half, and a relieved Dublin side was able to pick off the late scores that secured their passage to the decider.
McManamon brought his tally to 1-3, and there were points from Nolan and Cullen as the Dubs eased over the line.
Dublin scorers: K McManamon 1-3, D Connolly 1-1, B Cullen, K Nolan 0-2 each, A Brogan, B Breogan (f), S Cluxton (f) 0-1 each.
Wexford scorers: R Barry 1-1, B Brosnan 0-4, A Flynn, S Roche (2f) 0-2 each, PJ Banville 0-1.
Dublin: S Cluxton, P McMahon, R O’Carroll, M Fitzsimons, J McCarthy, G Brennan, K Nolan, E Fennell, D Bastic, P Flynn, A Brogan, B Cullen, D Connolly, K McManamon, B Brogan.
Subs: C O’Sullivan for Brennan, MD Macauley for Fennell, E O’Gara for B Brogan, C Kilkenny for McManamon, R McConnell for Bastic
Wexford: A Masterson, A Flynn, R Tierney, G Molloy, B Malone, A Doyle, D Murphy, L Chin, D Waters,E Bradley, C Morris, S Roche, B Brosnan, C Lyng, PJ Banville, R Barry.
Subs: P Byrne for Lyng, J Leacy for Morris, N Murphy for Doyle, J Wadding for Molloy, J Holmes for Malone
Referee: R Hickey (Clare).
