Dublin Women's Soccer League

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox football league | logo = | pixels = | country = Ireland | region = County Dublin | confed = | founded = 1994 | divisions = 5 | relegation = | levels = | league_cup = Premier Cup<br>Intermediate Cup<br>Intermediate Shield | confed_cup = | champions = | season = | most successful club = | website = [http://dddprem.leaguerepublic.com/l/league/486147284.html] | current = }}

The '''Dublin Women's Soccer League''' ('''DWSL''') 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.<ref name="fanhong">{{cite book|last=Fan Hong|first=J. A. Mangan|title=Soccer, Women, Sexual Liberation: Kicking Off a New Era|publisher=Frank Cass Publishers|year=2004}}</ref><ref name="foot.ie">{{cite web|url=http://foot.ie/threads/29867-EL-Clubs-with-Women-s-teams|title=EL Clubs with Women's teams|publisher=foot.ie |access-date=14 February 2016|date=14 February 2016}}</ref>

===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.<ref name="irelandwomen">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier-womchamp.html|title=Ireland – List of Women Champions|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=24 February 2016}}</ref> They also won the DWSL Premier Cup on six successive occasions between 1997 and 2002<ref name="independent4">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/sport/soccer/holders-dundalk-ladies-reach-cup-semifinal-26914375.html|title=Holders Dundalk ladies reach cup semi-final|work=The Irish Independent|access-date=3 March 2016|date=3 September 2004}}</ref> and the FAI Women's Cup on five successive occasions between 1997 and 2001.<ref name="RSSSF">{{cite web|title=Ireland – List of Women Cup Winners|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier-womcuphist.html|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=17 September 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref name="RSSSF"/> 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<ref name="ucd.ie1">{{cite web|url=http://www.ucd.ie/womenssoccer/honours.html|title=UCD women's Soccer Club Honours|publisher=ucd.ie|access-date=29 February 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref name="rsssf-2002-03-uefa-womens-cup">{{cite web|last1=Schöggl|first1=Hans|title=2002–03 UEFA Women's Cup|url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec-wom03.html|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=24 January 2016|date=10 July 2003}}</ref> 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<ref name="RTE">{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2005/1204/198916-women/|title=Dundalk take women's trophy|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|access-date=14 February 2016|date=14 June 2007}}</ref><ref name="irishtimes">{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/hoey-pounces-to-seal-victory-1.1172470|title=Hoey pounces to seal victory|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=14 February 2016|date=5 December 2005}}</ref> 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.<ref name="independent5">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/sport/soccer/serious-split-sees-cup-winners-go-it-alone-26904693.html|title=Serious split sees cup winners go it alone|work=The Irish Independent|access-date=15 February 2016|date=8 March 2006}}</ref><ref name="independent6">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/sport/soccer/no-merger-of-teams-for-big-european-quest-26905906.html|title=No merger of teams for big European quest|work=The Irish Independent|access-date=15 February 2016|date=12 July 2006}}</ref><ref name="orielweb">{{cite web|url=http://www.orielweb.com/dundalktalk/viewtopic.php?t=3521|title=Who Should Get the Women's UEFA Cup Place?|publisher=orielweb.com|access-date=14 February 2016|date=12 April 2006}}</ref>

===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.

===Replacement=== In December 2019, the Eastern Women's Football League (EWFL) was formed after discussions between the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), the DWSL and the Metropolitan Girls League (MGL), a subsidiary of the North Dublin Schoolboys/girls League (NDSL).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eastern Women's Football League - Home |url=https://www.ewfl.ie/aboutTheLeague.html |access-date=2026-03-11 |website=www.ewfl.ie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-08 |title=Girls soccer in Dublin left in crisis after bitter row over governance sparks legal clash |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/girls-soccer-in-dublin-left-in-crisis-after-bitter-row-over-governance-sparks-legal-clash/a1811457442.html |access-date=2026-03-11 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref>

==2016 teams==

===Premier Division=== {{Dublin Women's Soccer Premier League clubs}}

===Major Division=== {{Dublin Women's Soccer Major League clubs}}

==List of winners by season== {| class="wikitable collapsible" ! Season ! Winner ! Runners-up |−15B.C |- |2015 || Shelbourne<ref name="shelslfc">{{cite web|url=http://shelbournelfc.ie/Honours/ |title=Shelbourne Ladies F.C. Honours|publisher=shelbournelfc.ie|access-date=29 February 2016}}</ref> || |- |2014 || || |- |2013 || || |- |2012 || || |- |2011 || || |- |2010 || Peamount United<ref name="Pea1">{{cite web|url=http://shekicks.net/news/view/3554|title=Peamount Prepare for Champions Challenge|publisher=shekicks.net|access-date=29 February 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306135549/http://shekicks.net/news/view/3554|archive-date=6 March 2016}}</ref> || |- |2009 || St Francis<ref name="wnl">{{cite web|url=http://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/st-francis-braced-for-uefa-champions-league |title=St. Francis braced for UEFA Champions League|publisher=fai.ie|access-date=23 January 2016}}</ref> || |- |2008 || St Francis<ref name="IrelandWomen2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier-wom08.html|title=Ireland (Women) 2008|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=16 February 2016}}</ref> || St Catherine's |- |2007 || || |- |2006 || UCD || Peamount United |- |2005 || UCD || Peamount United |- |2004 || UCD || Shamrock Rovers |- |2003 || UCD || Shamrock Rovers |- |2002 || Shamrock Rovers|| UCD |- |2001 || Shamrock Rovers|| Rathfarnham United |- |2000 || Shamrock Rovers|| Shelbourne |- |1999 || Shamrock Rovers|| Shelbourne |- |1998 || Shamrock Rovers|| Shelbourne |- |1997 || St Patrick's Athletic || Shamrock Rovers |- |1996 || Castle Rovers || O'Connell Chics |- |1995 || Castle Rovers || Welsox F.C. |- |1994 || Elm Rovers || Verona F.C. |} <ref name="irelandwomen"/>

==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.<ref name="independent4"/><ref name="femalesoccer">{{cite web|url=http://www.femalesoccer.net/show_news_article.php?id=4872|title=Dundalk City WFC have enjoyed much success|publisher=femalesoccer.net|access-date=14 February 2016}}</ref>

===List of DWSL Premier Cup finals=== {| class="wikitable collapsible" ! Season ! Winner ! Score ! Runners-up ! Venue

|−15B.C |- |2016 || Boyne Rovers ||1–2|| T.E.K Utd|| |- |2015<ref name="Pea2">{{cite web|url=http://www.peamount.com/peamount-united-win-dwsl-league-cup/|title=Peamount United win DWSL league cup|publisher=peamount.com|access-date=1 March 2016}}</ref>||Peamount United||2–0||Shelbourne|| |- |2014 || || || || |- |2013 <ref group="note">The finalists were Peamount United and St Catherine's.</ref><ref name="herald">{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ie/sport/other-sports/peamount-hit-kilmore-for-8-29492256.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306113904/http://www.herald.ie/sport/other-sports/peamount-hit-kilmore-for-8-29492256.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 March 2016|title=peamount hit kilmore for 8|publisher=herald.ie|access-date=1 March 2016}}</ref> || || ||||Greenogue |- |2012 || || || || |- |2011 || || || || |- |2010 || Peamount United<ref name="Pea1"/><ref name="Pea3">{{cite web|url=http://foot.ie/threads/141364-Peamount-win-Premier-Cup|title=Peamount win Premier Cup|publisher=foot.ie|access-date=1 March 2016}}</ref> ||5–1||St Francis || |- |2009 || St Francis<ref name="wnl"/> || || || |- |2008 || || || || |- |2007 || UCD || || || |- |2006 || || || || |- |2005 || UCD|| 2–0|| Dundalk City||AUL Complex |- |2004 || UCD ||6–1|| St James's Gate|| |- |2003 || Dundalk City||3–2|| St James's Gate||Bluebell United |- |2002 || Shamrock Rovers|| || || |- |2001 || Shamrock Rovers|| || || |- |2000 || Shamrock Rovers|| || || |- |1999 || Shamrock Rovers|| || || |- |1998 || Shamrock Rovers|| || || |- |1997 || Shamrock Rovers || || || |} {{small|'''Source''':<ref name="ucd.ie1"/><ref name="independent3">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/sport/other-sports/dundalk-city-cup-joy-26911606.html|title=Dundalk City cup joy|work=The Irish Independent|access-date=15 February 2016|date=17 October 2003}}</ref><ref name="ucd.ie2">{{cite web|url=http://www.ucd.ie/ucdtoday/feb05/feb05/soccer.pdf|title=UCD Leading The Field in Men and Women's Soccer |publisher=ucd.ie|access-date=29 February 2016}}</ref>}}

==Notes== <references group="note" />

==References== {{reflist}} {{Football in Republic of Ireland}} {{Women's association football in the Republic of Ireland}}

== External links == * Eastern Women's Football League **{{Official|https://www.ewfl.ie/index.html}}

Category:Dublin Women's Soccer League Category:Women's association football leagues in the Republic of Ireland Category:Sports leagues established in 1994 Category:1994 establishments in Ireland Category:Summer association football leagues Category:Association football leagues in Leinster Category:Association football leagues in County Dublin Category:Women's second-level domestic association football leagues in Europe