Down's Barry O'Hagan says he regrets branding the Tailteann Cup as 'pointless' a few weeks ago.

Speaking at yesterday's launch of the inaugural second-tier football championship in Croke Park, the Clonduff forward explained how his comments were made in the heat of the moment following Down's Ulster SFC quarter-final defeat to Monaghan.

"Well, that was probably within five minutes of our defeat against Monaghan, a heavy defeat," he is quoted as saying by RTÉ.

"My own performance that day was bitterly disappointing. I thought maybe if I had kicked even two or three we might have been in it at that stage.

"Look, it was probably emotions and stuff like that that got into my head. I was a wee bit disappointed and one of the questions I was asked was, 'would you rather be in the Tailteann Cup or an All-Ireland qualifier?' So that's what made me make that comment and go down that route.

"At the end of the day, we are where we currently are at this moment in time with Down. If we put our heads together for this cup and try to develop our team, it can be beneficial for us in the long run and that's what our stand is now and hopefully it will go that way."

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