Carrigaline United savour special moments as Dad's Army move on in Munster competition
Carrigaline United before a Munster Junior Shield clash.
There are times in grassroots football that live long in the memory, and last weekend will be spoken about for a long time in Carrigaline United.
For their Junior Division 2 side, it captured everything that makes junior football so special: drama, heart, togetherness, and a moment of magic from a true Cork football legend.
Facing Peake Villa in the Munster Junior Shield, Carrigaline knew they were in for a stern test. What unfolded was a tense, hard-fought encounter that ebbed and flowed, with both sides trading blows and neither willing to give an inch. As the clock ticked into its final moments, it looked as though Peake Villa had done enough to edge it... until one final twist rewrote the script entirely.
From the bench stepped Greg O’Halloran, a name that needs little introduction in Cork football circles. A veteran of countless big occasions, the former Cork City player rolled back the years when it mattered most.
With the very last kick of the game, he found the net after getting on the end of a flick on from Gary Grace to snatch a dramatic equaliser, sparking wild celebrations. A special moment.
That goal forced a penalty shoot-out, where Carrigaline United showed remarkable composure. In front of a buzzing crowd, they held their nerve to book their place in the next round of the Munster Junior Shield.
What makes this Carrigaline side truly special goes far beyond one dramatic goal or a shoot-out victory. Known affectionately as the 'Dad's Army', this is a group unlike most in junior football.
At the heart of this team is family. Their children are not just spectators; they are the team’s biggest supporters. Always on the line cheering, sometimes part of the huddle before kick-off, and certainly ever-present in the dressing room.
Wins are celebrated together, defeats processed together, and memories created that will last a lifetime.
For many of the players, that is the real motivation... showing their kids what commitment, teamwork and resilience look like in practice.
Manager Keith Stanton along with his backroom staff of Calum Jones, Johnathon Murphy, Greg O’Halloran and Peter Sheehan have built something special with this group.
Balancing different ages, fitness levels and life commitments is no easy task, but the group have fostered a culture of inclusivity, respect and enjoyment. Training sessions are competitive but light-hearted, matchdays are intense but always rooted in camaraderie.
Speaking after the game, Stanton was full of pride, not just in the result but in the manner of it. He knows moments like O’Halloran’s equaliser are rare, but he also understands that success at this level is measured in more than trophies.
Still, ambition remains. With momentum building and belief growing, Stanton hopes this memorable weekend can be the platform to push on and go one step further this season.
For United’s Dads Army, football is about far more than league tables and results. It’s about turning up, pulling together, and sharing unforgettable moments with the people who matter most.
"I took on the role of manager in August 2025, but the team was originally set up by Greg O’Halloran and Noel Connelly just for fellas who were retiring from soccer who could have the option to keep playing if they wanted. The team had good success previously getting promoted from Division 4 to where we currently are in Division 2.
“It’s great for the lads to be playing because it gives everyone that sense of camaraderie to still be involved in soccer. Whatever the age you still want to win. What the lads lose to opponents in age, they have in crabbitness and they are all good footballers and know how to make the right decisions. They really are a great bunch of lads.”
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