Unfinished business is becoming a habit with the Wicklow and Meath champions. For the third time in two seasons they failed to yield a decisive verdict, with a semi-final place in the Leinster Club championship at stake in Aughrim yesterday.

The sides must now meet back in Navan next weekend.

Both sides were presented with gilt-edged opportunities to clinch it but Ronan Coffey, on 60 minutes, and Richie Kealy, in injury time, failed to capitalise on comparatively easy chances to shoot winning points.

David Crimmins had huge points and Trevor Dowd supplemented points from Martin Reilly Richie Kealy and Niall Kelly to forge a 0-7 to 0-6 lead for the Meath men at the recess.

Dunshaughlin came out strong in the second half but a couple of bad wides militated against their attacking efforts.

A visibly frustrated Rathnew, who had been kicking wide after wide, rediscovered their best form in the third quarter and Tommy Gill, Ronan Coffey, Anthony Mernagh and Gill again pumped over great points to wipe out a four-point deficit.

RATHNEW: T Murphy; L Glynn, M Coffey, D Power; E Franey, T Doyle (0-3), B Mernagh; D Coffey, D Byrne; R Dignam (0-1), R Coffey (0-2), A Mernagh 0-1); T Gill (0-3, two frees), M Doyle, S Byrne. Subs: E White for Dignam (48 mins).

DUNSHAUGHLIN: R Gogan; F Gogan, K McTigue, C Byrne; R Yore, A Kealy, Denis Kealy; G Dowd, Dermot Kealy; N Kelly (0-1), M McHale, M Reilly (0-3, two frees); R Kealy (0-3 two frees), D Crimmins (0-2), T Dowd (0-1).

Referee: P O'Toole (Longford)