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The Dublin Women's Soccer League was a women's association football league featuring teams from the Republic of Ireland. While the majority of the participating clubs were based in the Greater Dublin Area, the DWSL had regularly included teams from outside this area. Whilst previously the DWSL was one of the largest women's leagues in Ireland it had been overtaken by the Wexford, MGL and Cork Leagues. In late 2019, the FAI following discussions revamped Women's Football in the Greater Dublin area and the Eastern Women's Football League (EWFL) chaired by the MGL's Tony Gains were granted the only license to run women's adult football in the Dublin area. The EWFL is run by committees of the MGL and the former DWSL.

In addition to the Premier Division, there was also a Major Division and seven intermediate divisions. The DWSL operates in summer, with games played from May until September.

History

Early seasons

The Dublin Women's Soccer League was founded in 1994 following a merger of the Leinster Ladies' League and the Civil Service League. The inaugural champions were Elm Rovers. Its earliest members included several clubs which had been founded independently of men's clubs. These included Benfica, Rathfarnham United, Castle Rovers, O'Connell Chics and Welsox F.C. However the latter three subsequently became affiliated to Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick's Athletic and Shelbourne respectively. Castle Rovers were champions in 1995 and 1996 before a St Patrick's Athletic L.F.C. team that included Emma Byrne and Ciara Grant were champions in 1997.

Shamrock Rovers era

During the late 1990s and early 2000s Shamrock Rovers emerged as the DWSL's strongest team. Between 1998 and 2002 they were league champions five times in row. They also won the DWSL Premier Cup on six successive occasions between 1997 and 2002 and the FAI Women's Cup on five successive occasions between 1997 and 2001. This meant that Rovers also won four successive trebles between 1998 and 2001. Rovers' leading player during this era was Olivia O'Toole.

UCD era

During the mid-2000s UCD replaced Shamrock Rovers as the DWSL's strongest team. With a team that included Sylvia Gee and Mary Waldron, UCD were league champions four times in a row between 2003 and 2006. They also won the DWSL Premier Cup in 2004, 2005 and 2007, and the FAI Women's Cup three times in a row between 2002 and 2004 and achieved the treble in 2004.

DWSL teams in Europe

Between 2001 and 2010 several DWSL teams played in the UEFA Women's Cup after winning the FAI Women's Cup. In 2002–03, Shamrock Rovers became the first women's team to represent the Republic of Ireland in Europe. UCD became the second Republic of Ireland team to qualify for Europe after winning the cup. UCD played in the 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06 UEFA Women's Cups. Other DWSL teams to play in Europe included St Francis, Peamount United and Dundalk W.F.C. The latter came about under bizarre circumstances. In 2005 Dundalk City won the FAI Women's Cup and as a result qualified for the 2006–07 UEFA Women's Cup. However, in 2006 a split developed within Dundalk City over a plan for the club to fully merge with Dundalk F.C. This effectively saw the emergence of two separate women's teams. Dundalk City was re-established as an independent club while Dundalk W.F.C. became affiliated with the League of Ireland club. Following complications that resulted from the split, it was Dundalk W.F.C. that went on to represent the Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Women's Cup.

WNL and DWSL

When the Women's National League was formed in 2011, three of the six founding members – Peamount United, Raheny United and Shamrock Rovers – were members of the DWSL. All three clubs continued to enter reserve teams in the DWSL once the WNL was established. As the WNL expanded two more teams, UCD and Shelbourne, also switched from the DWSL to the WNL.

2016 teams

Premier Division

Major Division

List of winners by season

DWSL Premier Cup

The DWSL Premier Cup is the main league cup competition for DWSL clubs. The cup is also known as Pat Breheny Memorial Premier Cup. The cup was first played for in 1997 and Shamrock Rovers subsequently won the competition on six successive occasions. In 2003 Dundalk City became first team apart from Rovers to win the competition.

List of DWSL Premier Cup finals

Source:

Notes

1. The finalists were Peamount United and St Catherine's.

References

1. Fan Hong, J. A. Mangan (2004). Soccer, Women, Sexual Liberation: Kicking Off a New Era. Frank Cass Publishers.
2. "EL Clubs with Women's teams". foot.ie. 14 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
3. ^ "Ireland – List of Women Champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
4. ^ "Holders Dundalk ladies reach cup semi-final". The Irish Independent. 3 September 2004. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
5. ^ "Ireland – List of Women Cup Winners". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
6. ^ "UCD women's Soccer Club Honours". ucd.ie. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
7. Schöggl, Hans (10 July 2003). "2002–03 UEFA Women's Cup". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
8. "Dundalk take women's trophy". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
9. "Hoey pounces to seal victory". The Irish Times. 5 December 2005. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
10. "Serious split sees cup winners go it alone". The Irish Independent. 8 March 2006. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
11. "No merger of teams for big European quest". The Irish Independent. 12 July 2006. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
12. "Who Should Get the Women's UEFA Cup Place?". orielweb.com. 12 April 2006. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
13. ^ "Dublin women's soccer league". www.herald.ie. 12 July 2010. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
14. "Premier League Fixtures & Results". www.dwsl.ie. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
15. "Major League Fixtures & Results". www.dwsl.ie. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
16. "Shelbourne Ladies F.C. Honours". shelbournelfc.ie. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
17. ^ "Peamount Prepare for Champions Challenge". shekicks.net. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
18. ^ "St. Francis braced for UEFA Champions League". fai.ie. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
19. "Ireland (Women) 2008". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
20. "Dundalk City WFC have enjoyed much success". femalesoccer.net. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
21. "Peamount United win DWSL league cup". peamount.com. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
22. "peamount hit kilmore for 8". herald.ie. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
23. "Peamount win Premier Cup". foot.ie. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
24. "Dundalk City cup joy". The Irish Independent. 17 October 2003. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
25. "UCD Leading The Field in Men and Women's Soccer" (PDF). ucd.ie. Retrieved 29 February 2016.

v t e Association football in the Republic of Ireland
Women's association football in the Republic of Ireland
Governing Bodies	Football Association of Ireland League of Ireland Connacht Leinster Munster Universities WFAI GFA
National Teams	Men's Women's B U-23 U-21 U-19 U-17 League of Ireland XI Futsal
National Leagues	Premier Division First Division Under-19 League Under-17 League Women's National League
Provincial Leagues	Leinster Senior League Senior Division Munster Senior League Premier Division Ulster Senior League Emerald Futsal League
County/Local Leagues	Leinster AUL Wicklow Dublin Munster Cork AUL Kerry Desmond Limerick West Cork Connacht Galway Mayo Men's Women's Ulster Inishowen
National Cups	FAI Cup League of Ireland Cup President's Cup FAI Women's Cup FAI Intermediate Cup FAI Junior Cup FAI Youth Cup FAI Futsal Cup
Provincial Cups	Leinster Senior Cup Munster Senior Cup Connacht Junior Cup
All-Ireland Cups	All-Island Cup Collingwood Cup
List of clubs List of leagues List of venues Records Rivalries

• Dublin Women's Soccer League
• Women's association football leagues in the Republic of Ireland
• Sports leagues established in 1994
• 1994 establishments in Ireland
• Summer association football leagues
• Association football leagues in Leinster
• Association football leagues in County Dublin