Wexford prevailed in an entertaining clash at Tullamore tonight, edging out Offaly by 2-20 to 1-18.

The prize for the Slaneysiders - bidding for an astonishing clean sweep of Leinster titles - is a provincial final meeting with either Kilkenny or Galway, who will contest the second U20 semi-final tomorrow night.

A massive midweek crowd of 5,172 flocked to O’Connor Park, resulting in throw-in being delayed for 15 minutes. When the action commenced, it did not disappoint…

The Faithful County, who beat Dublin after extra time in last week’s quarter-final at Parnell Park, showed amazing reserves of character to close within a point with a minute of normal time left, having trailed by six after 50 minutes.

John Murphy’s long-range free dropped fortuitously into the Wexford net to halve the arrears to 1-17 to 1-14 with six minutes to go and captain David Nally pointed frees either side of a Ross Banville ‘65’ before Murphy – who struck that late, late winner against the Dubs - equalised in the 59th minute, as did Killian Sampson in injury time following a Sean Keane Carroll strike for the visitors.

In a very tense finale, Diarmuid Doyle drilled the second Wexford major low to the net deep into added time, finally seeing off Gary Cahill and Shane Hand’s men.

Conall Clancy’s 13th-minute major to the roof of the net was the crucial score of a tense first half which ended with the visitors ahead by four points, 1-8 to 0-7. There was never much between two well-matched teams but, in the end, the Purple & Gold just about shaded it.

MJ Reck’s side, making their first outing of the year against opponents who had already faced Westmeath, Carlow and Offaly, hit the ground running with two points each from Banville and Carroll and the hosts – despite their best efforts – couldn’t quite get back on terms.

Conor Langton epitomised their spirit, arrowing over four excellent scores, and points from Cathal Kiely (2) and Brian Duignan had the gap down to two approaching half time, but Wexford, who had ten different scorers (including 0-10 from Banville), always had an answer, captain Charlie McGuckin, Conor Scallan and Eoin Murphy all delivering superb third-quarter points as they motored on towards the provincial final, albeit with a few Offaly-induced bumps along the way.

Wexford - J Lawlor; E O’Leary, E Molloy, C O’Connor; N Murphy (0-1), M Kelly, C Scallan (0-1); E Murphy (0-1), C McGuckin (0-1); S Keane Carroll (0-3), R Banville (0-10, 6f, 1'65), J Reck (0-1); D Doyle (1-0), C Clancy (1-1), S O’Connor (0-1). Subs: C Fitzhenry for E Murphy, O Carty for C O’Connor.

Offaly - E Cleary; D Maher, C Butler, C Burke; K Sampson (0-1), R Ravenhill, R Hogan; D Nally (0-4, 2f), J Keenaghan; B Duignan (0-1), B Kealey (0-1), C Ryan (0-1); J Murphy (1-1), C Kiely (0-5f), C Langton (0-4). Subs: C Quinn for B Kealey, L Kavanagh for C Ryan, S Beatty for D Maher.

Referee - D Hughes.

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