A former Tyrone football star who was banned from playing Gaelic games after he joined the RUC will be in Croke Park today (Sunday) for the first time since 1960. Harry Hartop won an All-Ireland MFC medal with Tyrone in 1947 and 1948 but in '49, aged 19, he joined the RUC and was thus banned by the GAA from playing Gaelic games. "It was heartbreaking to give up the Gaelic," Hartop explained. "I just started playing soccer more then and had to accept it. I felt especially hurt in 1956 when Tyrone won the Ulster title. "It was sore to miss being involved in that era." The last time he was at Croke Park was for the All-Ireland SFC final in 1960 when Down overcame Kerry. Tweet

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