Dublin stung Wexford with a brace of injury-time goals to snatch a sensational draw in Sunday's Leinster SHC opener at sun-kissed Wexford Park.
Wexford seemed nailed-on for a potentially pivotal victory after Lee Chin brought his outstanding personal haul to 1-12 two minutes into added-time to open-up a 1-20 to 0-18 advantage.
But Dublin were given a lifeline when sub Paul Crummey fed Danny Sutcliffe to shave the gap to 1-20 to 1-18 three minutes into injury-time.
And although Cathal Dunbar responded to open-up a three point divide, the Sky Blues were embracing a famous escape to the draw when the resultant puck-out was broken down for Cian O’Sullivan to net the leveller.
Only time will tell how significant the result will be in terms of filling the three qualifying slots from the eastern province, with both sides on the road next weekend – Wexford facing Antrim, and Dublin heading to Carlow – before Wexford host Galway, who Dublin will be away to, while Kilkenny host the Model County and head to Dublin.
Wexford couldn’t have dreamt of a better start to their campaign, as Conor Hearne won the throw-in and arrowed through to full-forward Lee Chin, who drew a penalty which he blasted home inside 70 seconds.
But Dublin were anything but rattled as they responded to twice level, before corner-back Paddy Doyle and Donal Burke – the latter returning to the field after a head injury – generated a 0-7 to 1-2 lead after eighteen minutes.
Lee Chin was to the fore in purple and gold – making light of recent injury problems that had forced him to sit out the last couple of National League games - as he accounted for everything in closing to within 0-08 to 1-04 before Chin provided the assist for Rory O’Connor to tie things up for a third time after 24 minutes (1-05 to 0-08).
The Faythe Harrier added to his impeccable yield when regaining a slight initiative for Wexford from a free around midfield on 26 minutes.
The supporting Wexford cast weren’t quite up to the mark, although Rory O’Connor made it 1-07 to 0-08 with a succulent addition from the extreme left, before another long-range Chin free opened a three point divide after 32 minutes.
But the home-side lost ground before half-time as Donal Burke (free), Danny Sutcliffe – the attacker from his own half – and defender Chris Crummey had Dublin back on terms at the break (0-11 to 1-8).
Although Wexford appeared to be resuming sprightly – O’Connor and Chin (two frees) generating a 1-11 to 0-12 burst – Seán Currie and Mark Grogan balanced the books once again after 45 minutes.
Wexford were threatening something – Cathal Dunbar forcing a save before sub Conor McDonald was foiled in the follow up – and goalie Mark Fanning drove a monstrous score before McDonald made it 1-13 to 0-14 after 47 minutes.
But Dublin threatened for a goal, Eoghan O’Donnell bursting through to feed Ronan Hayes only for Hayes’ shot to narrowly clear the crossbar and peg it back to 1-13 to 0-15.
There was a little bit more sizzling in the Wexford pot as Chin, midfielder Conor Hearne and O’Connor drove them 1-16 to 0-15 ahead, and while Dublin responded through two Burke frees, Wexford saw Liam Óg McGovern lash an angled drive across the face of goal, before another Chin free and sub Cian Byrne consoled the home support amongst the 9,754 attendance with a 60th minute 1-18 to 0-17 advantage.
Wexford seemed set for the spoils after another couple of Chin frees had them leading 1-20 to 0-18 two minutes into added-time.
But Dublin then hit them for those two last-gasp sobering blows as it finished honours even.
Wexford: Mark Fanning (0-01); Shane Reck, Niall Murphy, Matthew O’Hanlon; Simon Donohoe, Damien Reck, Conor Foley; Conor Hearne (0-01), Liam Óg McGovern; Cathal Dunbar (0-1), Kevin Foley, Rory O’Connor (0-04); Richie Lawlor, Lee Chin (1-12, 1-00 penalty, 0-09 frees), Seamus Casey.
Subs: Conor McDonald (0-01) for Lawlor (44), Cian Byrne (0-01) for Casey (56), Mikie Dwyer for Foley (67), Darragh Carley for O’Connor (70+3).
Dublin: Seán Brennan; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, Paddy Doyle (0-01); Chris Crummey (0-01), Conor Donohoe, Eoghan O’Donnell; Mark Grogan (0-02), Conor Burke (0-01); Brian Hayes, Donal Burke (0-07, 6 frees, 1 '65), Danny Sutcliffe (1-02); Ronan Hayes (0-01), Cian O’Sullivan (1-02), Seán Currie (0-01).
Subs: Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing for D. Burke, temp. (10-17), Daire Gray for Doyle (56), Paul Crummey for R. Hayes (64), Darragh Power for Grogan (66), Ó Dúlaing for Currie (69), Dara Purcell for B. Hayes (70+1).
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).
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