http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/6170631.stm
Antrim hurlers train in Ballymena
Ballymena Rugby Club opened its training facilities to the Antrim hurlers on Sunday in an historic move.
Prior to Sunday, hurling had never been played on any of the Eaton Park pitches in the predominantly Protestant town.
Antrim hurling joint-manager Terence McNaughton described the training venue as "perfect for us" given that so many of the squad hail from north Antrim.
Ballymena chairman Rab Brady spoke of his club's desire to "develop a good working relationship with the hurlers".
"Hopefully they can use the fabulous facilities that we have here," he said.
"We are not concerned with religion here or any aspect of that but just glad to see other sports organisations use the facilities."
The club's premises have hosted soccer and cricket, as well as rugby down through the years.
Invariably, Antrim hurlers have trained in West Belfast down through the years and the county board is now hoping that Jody Gormley's Saffron football squad will also be able to avail of Ballymena's facilities during the course of this winter.
Antrim hurling bosses McNaughton and Dominic McKinley had no hesitation in heading for Ballymena.
"When you train at 10 o'clock or a Sunday morning, you don't want to be dragging guys from the far ends of north Antrim to Belfast," said McNaughton.
Antrim GAA chairman John McSparran said that the hurlers were "delighted" by the decision to train in Ballymena.
"I noticed one of the things they said this morning was:'My God...dressing-rooms with heat in them'. That was a novelty for them," added the Antrim official.
"I haven't heard one dissenting voice. And if you know the position in Antrim where we are lacking facilities, anybody who would be critical of this, is way wide of the mark."
Antrim hurlers train in Ballymena
Ballymena Rugby Club opened its training facilities to the Antrim hurlers on Sunday in an historic move.
Prior to Sunday, hurling had never been played on any of the Eaton Park pitches in the predominantly Protestant town.
Antrim hurling joint-manager Terence McNaughton described the training venue as "perfect for us" given that so many of the squad hail from north Antrim.
Ballymena chairman Rab Brady spoke of his club's desire to "develop a good working relationship with the hurlers".
"Hopefully they can use the fabulous facilities that we have here," he said.
"We are not concerned with religion here or any aspect of that but just glad to see other sports organisations use the facilities."
The club's premises have hosted soccer and cricket, as well as rugby down through the years.
Invariably, Antrim hurlers have trained in West Belfast down through the years and the county board is now hoping that Jody Gormley's Saffron football squad will also be able to avail of Ballymena's facilities during the course of this winter.
Antrim hurling bosses McNaughton and Dominic McKinley had no hesitation in heading for Ballymena.
"When you train at 10 o'clock or a Sunday morning, you don't want to be dragging guys from the far ends of north Antrim to Belfast," said McNaughton.
Antrim GAA chairman John McSparran said that the hurlers were "delighted" by the decision to train in Ballymena.
"I noticed one of the things they said this morning was:'My God...dressing-rooms with heat in them'. That was a novelty for them," added the Antrim official.
"I haven't heard one dissenting voice. And if you know the position in Antrim where we are lacking facilities, anybody who would be critical of this, is way wide of the mark."