Meath nearly blew a six-point half-time lead brought about by a completely dominant first half before edging Westmeath by 1-12 to 2-8 in National Football League Division Two in Navan on Saturday.
An early Joe Sheridan goal and some Jamie Queeney frees had the Royals 1-3 to 0-0 clear before a Paul Bannon penalty got the bottom side off the mark.
Gavin Hoey and Tommy Warbuton got their remaining scores of the half but they still trailed 1-8 to 1-2 at the break after some good scoring from Bray brothers Stephen and David.
Meath, and particularly the Brays, had posted a host of wides in that first half as well though and it looked like it might haunt them as the Lake County staged a comeback. Paul Greville got two early second half scores, added to by Bannon and sub Philip Gilsenan to bring the visitors within three points.
Michael Ennis, who had switched to full forward, then stole in untroubled for a goal to amazingly level the game.
David Bray and Ennis then traded points before Ennis put his side in front and on course for a famous victory.
However, it was not to be as first David and then Stephen Bray got the final two scores of the game to gove Meath the narrowest of wins.
Elsewhere, an injury time free from Barry Grogan brought Down's perfect record to a halt as the Division Two leaders were held 0-14 to 1-11 by Tipperary in Newry.
After trailing for most of the half, Tipp in fact led at the break, a long-range effort from Grogan deceiving Mourne goalkeeper Brendan McVeigh.
Down edged back in front after the break but could not put space between themselves and the Munster men and Grogan's late score earned them their first point after promotion.
Finally, Armagh closed on Down close to the top of the division with a narrow 0-13 to 0-12 win over Laois at O'Moore Park.
The Orchard men overcame the red-carding of Vinny Martin to lead by 0-09 to 0-05 at the break.
The evergreen Steven McDonnell hit 0-7 in all for Paddy O'Rourke's men but they did not have it all their own way as the Leinster men - despite the dismissal of captain Kevin Meaney - fought back hard after the break.
It was level as the game entered added time. But there was still time for Ryan Henderson to steal the show for the Ulstermen and he did just that with a winning score in the 73rd minute.