CHILLY weather and two out-of-sorts teams provided a predictably uninspired spectacle for most of yesterday's top match in the Church & General National Football League. Nonetheless, creeping up on the attendance of about 8,000 came a gripping finish which saw Done gal come back twice in injury time to gain a deserved share of the points.

With nearly four minutes of added time elapsed, Donegal's full forward Tony Boyle measured up to a free about 30 metres from goal. Having passed an unrewarding afternoon as part-time free-taker, he wisely dispensed with the option of kicking off the ground and pumped the ball over the bar from his hands.

It was a frustrating denouement for Meath, but Donegal manager PJ McGowan reflected the view of most neutrals by saying afterwards that his team would have felt aggrieved had they not secured a draw.

McGowan will probably have been happy enough with the result, as his team, already short a number of first-choices, lost Brian Murray and Noel Hegarty just before the throw-in - leaving only Matt Gallagher and Boyle as the only survivors of the 1992 All-Ireland triumph.

Meath could argue that the prematch loss of Tommy Dowd caused them less supportable deprivation, and they would have a point.

Meath, in particular, will be happy with the continuing good showing of Darren Fay and John McDermott in the central defensive positions. Unfortunately for them, a recurrence of the familiar indecisiveness at midfield cast a shadow over McDermott's future availability for the centre back position.

This would be a pity, because the Skryne man confirmed all the good impressions he had made in his first match in the position, last November in Tralee, without raising any question marks. Behind him, Fay and Martin O'Connell were reliable, and the overall impression was of defensive competence - a point underlined by the fact that the Donegal forwards managed only a point from play.

This display was mirrored at the other end where Mark Crossan, taking Noel Hegarty's place, played a fine match at centre back, and wing backs Damien Diver and Martin Shovlin, especially, trawled effectively behind the lines. Further to the Ulstermen's advantage was the virtual free run in the middle granted James Ruane and John Ban Gallagher.

Donegal started strongly: John Duffy's two frees and an eye-catching solo and score from Ruane opened up a 0-3 to 0-1 lead; Trevor Giles's sixth-minute free was Meath's response. Although in difficulties at midfield and attack, with long balls yielding a meagre return, Meath created two goal chances.

The first saw a splendid saved from Paul Callaghan in a one-on-one contest with Evan Kelly, but nothing could save Donegal in the 15th minute when Kelly and Olli Murphy combined to open a window of opportunity for Barry Callaghan, who charged through a bedraggled defence to take the goal amidst some concern that the finish was the result of a fumble, and consequently illegal as a hand-pass.

A further free from Duffy and a well-crafted move between Eamonn McMenamin and JB Gallagher, finished over the bar by the latter, pushed Donegal into an interval lead.

One lesson of the first half was that Meath were better off launching a short-game at the Donegal defence than trying their hand at early ball. And one answer was the introduction of Jody Devine, who probably hand-delivers even his post. The familiar enthusiasm for running at the opposition was much in evidence but also, alas, was the imprecise use of the ball.

In fairness, Devine wasn't the only one with this problem, and Jimmy McGuinness looked in need of fine tuning for most of the match.

Within five minutes of the restart Giles, whose influence grew the further back he went, came onto broken ball and placed a fine pass into Ollie Murphy, whose finish to the net invited no argument.

Again winded by the concession of a goal, Donegal dug in and the introduction of Paddy Hegarty began to cause problems for Meath. With 10 minutes to go, the match was level 2-2 to 0-8, and its pattern had slightly changed. Giles and Alan Finnegan - labouring fruitlessly up to then as Dowd's replacement at full forward - were helping Meath get a better hold at midfield and Cathal Sheridan was worrying Donegal's defence.

Meath's unsuccessful break for the tape saw two well-taken points from McGuinness and a spectacular catch-and-kick by Ollie Murphy, but Boyle covered them on both occasions.