It took them some time to get going but Donegal then proved too strong for Meath to remain unbeaten in Allianz League Division 2 and top the table after a 1-18 to 1-10 triumph.
With 10 different scorers, Donegal will be happy with the run-out although they will have to sweat on captain Patrick McBrearty and All-Star Ryan McHugh, who both had to go off injured with McBrearty looking the more serious of the two.
Both sides made many changes for a game that was essentially a dead rubber. Meath had nine changes from the team that lost their round six game to Cork.
But they got the perfect start with Cathal Hickey finding the Donegal net from the throw-in with just 16 seconds on the clock.
It took the Royals 28 minutes to get a point and Donegal were also finding scoring difficult with their first point on 12 minutes from Shane O'Donnell.
A minute later Meath had another goal chance when a great ball from Shane Walsh found James Conlon but Shaun Patton made a good save.
Donegal went another 12 minutes before the second arrived but then they got four in a two-minute burst, Oisin Gallen, Jamie Brennan, Aaron Doherty and Gallen again eventually getting the Donegal support into full voice.
James Conlon had Meath's first point but Oisin Gallen replied with a fisted effort. Keith Curtis got a second point for Meath but Jeaic Mac CeallabhuÍ, on for an injured Patrick McBrearty and Hugh McFadden kept the scoreboard ticking for Donegal.
Meath lost Adam McDonnell to a black card for a late challenge on Oisin Gallen. Ryan McHugh and Shane Walsh exchanged points in added time to leave Donegal ahead by four at the break - Donegal 0-10, Meath 1-03.
Ruairi Kinsella had an early second half point for Meath but Ryan McHugh cancelled that with his left.
Caolan McGonagle had a goal chance after great work by McHugh, but he blazed wide. Donegal then lost Ryan McHugh to injury with Aaron Doherty and Ronan Jones trading scores.
Ciaran Thompson had the point of the game and then Aaron Doherty placed Jamie Brennan to power through, round the 'keeper and fire to the net.
Ciaran Thompson with Donegal's first pointed free in two games and Oisin Gallen pushed Donegal nine clear and on their way to victory.
They lost Caolan McGonagle to a black card but finished with further points from Thompson and Luke McGlynn.
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Stephen McMenamin, Ciaran Moore; Ryan McHugh (0-02), Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan; Hugh McFadden (0-01), Ciaran Thompson (0-03,0-02f); Aaron Doherty (0-02), Shane O'Donnell (0-02), Jamie Brennan (1-01); Patrick McBrearty, Oisin Gallen (0-04), Dáire Ó Baoill. Subs: Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí (0-01) for McBrearty (20); Niall O'Donnell (0-01) for Ó Baoill (ht); Caolan McColgan for R McHugh (45); John Ross Molloy and Luke McGlynn (0-01) for McMenamin and H McFadden (both 54).
Meath: Billy Hogan; Harry O'Higgins, Adam O'Neill, Brian O'Halloran; Adam McDonnell, Donal Keogan (0-01), Ross Ryan; Ronan Jones (0-01), Cian McBride; Diarmuid Moriarty, Ruairi Kinsella (0-01), Cathal Hickey (1-00); Shane Walsh (0-01), James Conlan (0-02), Keith Curtis (0-02). Subs: Jack O'Connor for Moriarty (46); Danny Dixon (0-01) for McBride (51); Aaron Lynch (0-01,f) for S Walsh (56); Michael Murphy for O'Higgins (58); Ciaran Caulfield for McDonnell (63)
Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)
