Leitrim reached the All-Ireland intermediate ladies football final after holding off a late Wexford rally at Parnell Park.
Leitrim were seven points clear four minutes from time before Wexford hit 1-3 without reply. However, Jonny Garrity's side held on to win 3-8 to 2-10.
The Slaneysiders even had a last-gasp chance to force the game into extra-time; Aoife Cullen free floated wide of the target.
In a lively opening to the contest, Leitrim’s Laura O’Dowd traded points with Wexford's Kellie Kearney.
O’Dowd added her second of the game after the play was held up for a number of minutes. Wexford corner-back Sarah Harding Kenny received treatment for an injury.
While Wexford eventually equalised with an Aoife Cullen point, O’Dowd and Siomha Quinn later split the uprights to give Leitrim some breathing space.
Their Slaneyside counterparts kept in touch with a fine score by Tara Doyle, but right on the stroke of half-time, Muireann Devaney found the net. Leitrim led 1-4 to 0-3 at the interval.
Leitrim's early second-half blitz
Wexford's Aisling Halligan was sin-binned two minutes into the second period. However, Lizzy Kent's side received a lifeline when Ciara Banville fired a low shot to the net making it a one-point game.
Leitrim responded impressively. Goals from Ailbhe Clancy and Devaney in the 38th and 40th minutes respectively made it 3-5 to 1-3.
Although Wexford raised white flags via the boots of Clara Donnelly, Doyle, Cullen and Amanda Power either side of the final-quarter mark, similar efforts by Devaney, Clancy and substitute Leah Fox looked set to ease Leitrim into a first intermediate final since 2007.
Wexford subsequently offered themselves a lifeline when an Aoife Cullen goal was supplemented by points from Grace Donovan, Chloe Foxe and Maria Byrne, but Leitrim did just enough to hold out.
Leitrim will play Tyrone in the All-Ireland intermediate final on Sunday August fourth in Croke Park. Tyrone scored a 2-11 to 1-11 win over Down in their semi-final.
Leitrim: M Monaghan; E Quigley, C Tyrell, C Owens; S Reynolds, K Bruen, E Bruen; N Tighe, M Guckian; O Flynn, L O’Dowd, M Devaney; A Clancy, S Quinn, A Redican. Subs: L Fox for Quinn (43), M Murphy for Quigley (53), L McKeon for Flynn (57), B O’Rourke for Clancy (58).
Scorers: M Devaney 2-1, A Clancy 1-1 (0-1f), L O’Dowd 0-3, M Guckian 0-1 (1f), S Quinn, L Foxe 0-1 each.
Wexford: S McCarthy; K English, M Byrne, S Harding Kenny; C Banville, A Halligan, A Power; R Murphy, B McDonald; C Donnelly, C Foxe, A Cullen, C Ní Nualláin, K Kearney, T Doyle. Subs: L Doyle for Harding Kenny (7), C Murray for Ní Nualláin (37), G Donovan for McDonald (46).
Scorers: A Cullen 1-2 (0-1f), C Banville 1-0, T Doyle 0-2, M Byrne, A Power, C Donnelly, C Foxe, K Kearney, G Donovan 0-1 each.
Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).
