Consistency remains a priority for O’Rourke’s men

There is one aspect of Meath victory over Down at Parnell Park the other week that may have subsequently caused some turbulence to Colm O'Rourke's sleep patterns - and that's the number of wides the Ulster side clocked up.

Time and again Colm Laverty's troops worked their way through, created a decent scoring opportunities, only to fire wide; sometimes badly wide. They did it 16 times. More chances were wasted if you count balls that dropped short.

Meath only had a two point margin of victory yet that would have been comprehensively wiped out if Down had not been so profligate in front of the posts. So that's one major concern.

The fact that Down could get enough ball, before embarking on runs, bobbing and weaving their way through the Meath defence, stretching the Royals, before getting a bad dose of the yips when the posts loomed. That's another worry for O'Rourke.

Meath got away with it in Parnell Park. Such vulnerability in defence will almost certainly be punished with a great alacrity by Wexford at Pairc Taillteann on Saturday. In their campaign so far the Model County has experienced some sharp contrasts in fortune. They drew with Fermanagh (1-13 all), defeated Leitrim 1-16 to 1-12 and Offaly 1-22 to 2-14 but lost to Antrim 0-14 to 2-15. That win over Offaly last Saturday in a preliminary quarter-final is a warning for the Royals.

One of the features of Meath's opening two games in the Tailteann Cup - against Tipperary and Waterford - was how they mixed the good, the bad and the forgettable. In both outings they were extremely tentative and vulnerable looking in the opening half only to change track in the second when they were better; much better.

Against Down there were no wild fluctuations in form. Throughout the 70 minutes Meath played at a consistent, steady level. Now they need to maintain that consistency although they also looked very vulnerable in defence at times.

There are other reasons for O'Rourke and his charges to be optimistic going into Saturday's clash. There is the form of players such as Jordan Morris and Jack O'Connor for example. Both were bang on their game against Down. When he is in the zone Morris is a formidable attacking threat. His strength and awareness can set him apart.

He also showed he has the temperment of a big-game player, particularly in the way he tucked home the penalty kick against Down. Others too showed real signs of real improvement.

Conor Gray and Ronan Jones are evolving into a very effective midfield unit while O'Connor's pace is blistering and he has the inherent potential to get better and better.

Aaron Lynch had a quiet game against Down but he showed in registering 1-3 against Tipperary that he can cause a defence big problems. He needs to just do the simple things well. He doesn't have to bag spectacular scores in every game.

Daithi McGowan came on and fired over two sweetly struck points from a '45' and a free in Parnell Park. Such things can give a player deeply-felt confidence, be a game-changer.

If Meath can sustain a level of consistency over the 70 minutes they showed against Down, and shut down the Wexford attack, they should win.