A last-gasp point from Marion Farrelly saw Meath secure a draw with Armagh and retain their place in Division 1 of the Lidl National Football League for 2027.
The Royal County trailed for most of the game and spent a large part of the afternoon sitting in the bottom two of the 'live table' but all that matters is where you are at full-time, with Meath doing enough to stay up by finishing on seven points.
With the wind at their backs, Armagh took an early 0-04 to 0-02 lead.
Points from Rachel Casserly and Marion Farrelly for Meath were answered by two from Kelly Mallon and one apiece from the Mackin sisters, Aimee and Blaithin.
The first half was defined by two goal chances midway through it with one taken and one narrowly missed.
At one end, Ciara Smyth came an inch away from finding the top corner with a ferocious effort, but it clipped the inside of the post.
At the other end, Mallon tried an ambitious shot from range and beat Aoibheann Corcoran with sheer power.
Meath responded well, with Casserly and Duggan (free) grabbing the next two points, but Armagh led by five at the break after Aimee and Blaithin Mackin closed out the Orchard County’s tally for the half.
Meath came flying out of the blocks to start the second half with Casserly adding two more points - one either side of a Farrelly score.
At the other end, Armagh almost added a second goal when Aoife McCoy attempted to barrel her way through the Meath defence, but she was crowded out and turned over with Megan Thynne emerging with the ball on her own goal-line.
Meath substitute Meadhbh Byrne made an immediate impact by pointing to reduce the deficit to one, but Armagh replied with their first two scores of the half - frees from Mallon and Aimee Mackin.
Meath’s Smyth grabbed the next score of the game and a converted Duggan free left one in it with time running out.
But there was enough time left for late drama, with Farrelly’s score securing the draw.
Scorers - Meath: R Casserly 0-04, M Farrelly 0-03, E Duggan 0-02 (2f), M Byrne 0-01, C Smyth 0-01.
Armagh: K Mallon 1-03 (2f), A Mackin 0-03 (3f), B Mackin 0-02.
Meath: A Corcoran; K Kealy, Á Sheridan, MK Lynch; S Murphy, O Gore, K Bermingham; O Sheehy, N Gallogly (capt.); M Farrelly, C Smyth, M Thynne; E Duggan, L Woods, R Casserly. Subs: A Gaffney for Sheridan (37), M Byrne for Woods (41), O Finnegan for Murphy (49), K Cole for Sheehy (56).
Armagh: B Mathers; M Ferguson, C McCambridge, C Towe; A Donnelly, L McConville (capt.), G Ferguson; B Mackin, C O'Reilly; C McNally, A McCoy, E Druse; A Mackin, E Reid, K Mallon. Subs: M Lennon for McNally (ht), S Quigley for Reid (37), E McConaghey for O’Reilly (56).
Referee: Eoghan O’Neill.
