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.

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.

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).

2016 teams

Premier Division

Major Division

List of winners by season Season Winner Runners-up−15B.C2015 Shelbourne 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 Peamount United 2009 St Francis 2008 St Francis St Catherine's2007 2006 UCD Peamount United 2005 UCD Peamount United2004 UCD Shamrock Rovers 2003 UCD Shamrock Rovers 2002 Shamrock Rovers UCD 2001 Shamrock Rovers Rathfarnham United2000 Shamrock Rovers Shelbourne1999 Shamrock Rovers Shelbourne1998 Shamrock Rovers Shelbourne1997 St Patrick's Athletic Shamrock Rovers 1996 Castle Rovers O'Connell Chics1995 Castle Rovers Welsox F.C.1994 Elm Rovers Verona F.C.

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 Season Winner Score Runners-up Venue−15B.C2016 Boyne Rovers 1–2 T.E.K Utd 2015Peamount United2–0Shelbourne 2014 2013 The finalists were Peamount United and St Catherine's. Greenogue2012 2011 2010 Peamount United 5–1St Francis 2009 St Francis 2008 2007 UCD 2006 2005 UCD 2–0 Dundalk CityAUL Complex 2004 UCD 6–1 St James's Gate2003 Dundalk City3–2 St James's GateBluebell United2002 Shamrock Rovers 2001 Shamrock Rovers 2000 Shamrock Rovers 1999 Shamrock Rovers 1998 Shamrock Rovers 1997 Shamrock Rovers

Notes

References

External links Eastern Women's Football League