Dublin booked a semi-final date with Kilkenny when easing to a 13-point victory over Wexford at wet and miserable Croke Park tonight - 2-19 to 0-12.

Only 13,066 paying spectators turned out to witness the Dubs - with eleven different scorers, including Ryan O'Dwer, who came off the bench to make his first appearance of the year - easily set up a June 11^th meeting with the Cats at O'Moore Park. In stark contrast, despite a busy start, Liam Dunne's rudderless charges (who mustered just four second-half scores) failed totally to rise to the challenge.

As the incessant rain hammered down, goals from Eamonn Dillon and Darragh O'Connell late in each quarter helped the Metropolitans to a commanding 2-10 to 0-8 interval advantage, with David Treacy clipping over six first-half frees.

Liam Og McGovern had the Model ahead from 65 metres but Ger Cunningham's men hit back with points from Niall McMorrow, Treacy and David O'Callaghan to lead by 0-3 to 0-1 after eight minutes. Wexford were back in front by the 13^th minute thanks to a brace of Conor McDonald frees and one from Harry Kehoe.

McMorrow's second point had the sides level for the third time and McDonald replied with a terrific solo point. In the 17^th minute, full forward Dillon scooped the sliothar skilfully into the top corner of the Davin End net and the Dubs were three to the good once Treacy followed up with a pointed free, 1-5 to 0-5. It was a lead they would never relinquish.

Treacy popped over his second successive free after McDonald had scuffed one at the other end and Mark Schutte made it double scores twelve minutes from the break. When McGovern landed a long-overdue Wexford point, Treacy hit back quickly with a brace of frees to leave six between them after 28 minutes, 1-9 to 0-6.

McDonald and McGovern kept the losers sort of ticking over but Treacy punished the underdogs by knocking over his sixth successful free of the night. Two minutes from the break, it was double scores again as Dillon picked out Schutte who spotted the advancing O'Connell. The former Kerry star planted a shot through Conor O'Leary's legs to close the first-half scoring with a big one.

McDonald (free) and McGovern - with his fourth - reduced the gap to six upon the restart but McMorrow struck back with his third point before Eoin Moore converted a 45^th-minute Wexford '65': 2-11 to 0-11. Johnny McCaffrey and McDonald (free) traded scores as we went into the last 20 minutes. The winners now took control...

Plunkett became the sixth of Dublin's starting forwards to register (as well as both midfielders) and Shane Barrett got back onto his goal-line to deny Wexford a goal 15 minutes from the end. McMorrow made it a four-point swing as he drifted out to gather possession and rattle over his fourth point. Substitutes Chris Bennett and Ryan O'Dwyer pointed either side of a Treacy '65' and Treacy added a free on the stroke of 70 minutes before another sub, Paul Ryan, completed the rout as the winners finished with seven unanswered points.

Even though they had it all their own way, this was a solid display from Dublin in a game that was played in difficult conditions, due to both the weather and the low turn-out. They looked strong all over the pitch and introduced some fine talent from the bench to complement a satisfactory team effort. Job done!

Dublin - C Dooley; E O'Donnell, C O'Callaghan, O Gough; S Barrett, L Rushe, C Crummey; D O'Connell (1-0), J McCaffrey (0-1); D Plunkett (0-1), N McMorrow (0-4), D Treacy (0-8, 7f, 1'65); D O'Callaghan (0-1), M Schutte (0-1), E Dillon (1-0). Subs: R O'Dwyer (0-1) for D O'Connell, C Bennett (0-1) for M Schutte, P Schutte for J McCaffrey, O O'Rorke for D O'Callaghan, P Ryan (0-1) for E Dillon.

Wexford - C O'Leary; L Ryan, M O'Hanlon, E Conroy; E Moore (0-1'65), P Foley, D O'Keefe; J O'Connor, A Kenny; H Kehoe (0-1), P Morris, D Dunne; L Og McGovern (0-4), C McDonald (0-6, 4f), P Doran. Subs: C Dunbar for A Kenny, I Byrne for P Morris, E Martin for E Moore.

Referee - F Horgan.

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