The Fermanagh Minors charity challenge - It’s Not Minor, It Matters - aimed at raising awareness of mental health and well being issues throughout the county and country has proven to be a major success.

The squad took part in a number of challenges in recent weeks with Action Mental Health NI and The Samaritans the chosen charities for the funds raised.

The group also were offered support from big names in GAA such as Lee Keegan, Con O’Callaghan, Fermanagh manager Ryan McMenamin and former Fermanagh stars Barry Owens and Marty McGrath while the likes of jockey Tony McCoy, golfer Paul McGinley, Manchester United coach Kieran McKenna and broadcaster Rachel Wyse also backed the challenge.

Fermanagh minor manager Maurice McLaughlin spoke glowingly of the group of players as well as his management team for the roles they played in the challenge.

“I would say that I am very proud of the group and the way that they have bought into everything and the good that it will do.

I also have to mention the part that Colm Bradley has had in all of this from the inception of the idea with his wife Michelle coming up with the name for it through to the work he has put in with the video and then putting up the stuff on twitter and Fermanagh GAA. And we were lucky to have Mark McHugh who has so many contacts and we were able to get so many big names to wish the guys luck with their challenge,” said Maurice.

And McLaughlin has no doubt that the challenge has succeeded on all levels.

“It is great that we raised money for the charities, that was important, but the big thing was the awareness that was raised and I would feel that is the major achievement in all this. Hopefully it helps to remove a stigma from an area where there may have been a stigma down through the years with regards anyone in general talking about this subject. It has been such a positive exercise,” he added.

Maurice went on to thank all those who supported the challenge.

“We are very pleased also with the response of the public, not just the financial response but all those people taking time to make videos. We want to thank everybody for whatever contribution they made, it was very much appreciated,” he commented.

The group have also had a number of speakers address them online during the challenge, finishing up with RTE pundit and former professional footballer Richie Sadlier who spoke about his own time in dealing with mental health issues.

“What a way to finish up, Richie had the lads captivated and they really bought into it. We would like to thank him and all the others who took the time to speak to the group,” he said.

And McLaughlin is hoping that the minors get rewarded for their efforts by getting the chancer to play their postponed Ulster semi-final against Monaghan. Fermanagh had beaten Down in the middle of December but the competition was then put on hold due to increasing Covid-19 numbers.

The Erne manager though feels it is important that the competition is finished and not cancelled.

“I’ve always felt that it would be common-sense for this to be played. It is one of the easiest competitions to finish off, one week can finish the Ulster Championship and I think it is vital for these lads with the amount of ups and downs that they have had with being in and out of lockdown. They deserve their reward at the end of this of getting a crack at getting to an Ulster final,” he said.

The challenge may have finished but the Justgiving page will remain open until Sunday if anybody wants to make a contribution. If you wish to make a donation, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/fermanagh-gaa-its-not-minor-it-matters