Conor McManus came up with the goods once again for Monaghan who resisted a late Meath fightback to ensure they stay in Division One for a seventh year in a row.
While already-relegated Meath, inspired by a new force in Jordan Morris, produced a gutsy second half at Clones, Monaghan who took a lot more from this draw as they staved off the threat of relegation.
They looked home and hosed when McManus, who finished with 1-8, scored a goal after 62 minutes to lead by four points, at 2-12 to 1-11.
Meath hit the last three points in injury time to salvage a draw, all three scored by Morris, but Monaghan and McManus had done enough.
Monaghan were dominant in the first half and it was hard to see how Meath could get back in the game.
They were already two points ahead when McManus fizzed a superb 60metres pass straight into the chest of Ryan McAnespie. He off-loaded to the in-rushing Micheal Bannigan who hit the net putting them 1-3 to 0-1 up after seven minutes.
A nasty collision between Darren Hughes and Cillian O’Sullivan left the latter unable to continue, while Hughes was able to come back on.
The loss of O’Sullivan seemed like a big blow at the time and he had already scored Meath’s opening point, but his replacement lit the place up.
As cameos go, Jordan Morris’ was fairly impressive with a seven-point haul which included three points from play and his late trio of points in stoppage time ensured they signed off from their brief stay in Division One with something.
After he came on Meath hit three points in a row, Shane Walsh, Jason Scully and Ronan Jones all scoring from play but a McManus point stopped their run and Monaghan led 1-7 to 0-7.
Meath owned the third quarter with 1-2 without reply and Bryan Menton’s fisted goal, after good work by Donal Keogan down the right, put them ahead 1-9 to 1-7 after 45 minutes.
McManus calmly went about bringing Monaghan level and from there himself and Morris traded blows like two gunslingers with the sides level three times in an exciting final quarter.
It looked McManus’ goal might be enough to shake Meath off but they rallied very late on for a share of the spoils which both can take positives from heading into the championship, with Monaghan facing a six-day turnaround before playing Cavan in an Ulster opener on Saturday.
Monaghan: R Beggan (0-1, f); F Kelly (0-1), C Boyle, D Ward; K O’Connell, R Wylie, K Duffy (0-1); D Hughes, A Woods; R McAnespie, M Bannigan (1-0), S O’Hanlon; D Garland, C McCarthy (0-2, 1f), C McManus 1-8 (3f)
Subs: K Lavelle for Woods (HT), C McGuinness for Garland (40), D Malone (0-1) for Bannigan (46), S Carey for O’Hanlon (46), K Hughes for McCarthy (55)
Meath: A Colgan; S Lavin, C McGill, D Toner; C Hickey, S McEntee, D Keogan; B Menton (1-0), R Jones (0-2); J Scully (0-1), B McMahon, R Jones, R Ryan; C O’Sullivan (0-1), S Walsh (0-1), T O’Reilly (0-4, 3f)
Subs: J Morris (0-7, 3f and one mark) for O’Sullivan (23), M Costello for Scully (HT), J Wallace (0-1) for McMahon (50), E Harkin for Toner (53), J O’Connor for Hickey (62), E Devine for Walsh (66)
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
