The 2023 season saw a lot of change in the domestic women’s game. The Women’s Premier Division brought in semi-professional contracts with league sides now able to offer paid contracts to their players. There was also the introduction of the All-Island Cup, which saw League of Ireland sides face sides from the Northern Ireland League. 2023 was a landmark year for Irish women’s football with the senior women’s team playing in their first ever major international tournament, having qualified for the World Cup. In the League of Ireland Galway WFC were taken over by Galway United, and Shamrock Rovers rejoined the league.
Peamount United won the league with a few games to spare. Galway United lifted the first ever All-Island Cup. Athlone Town won their first ever major trophy by winning the FAI Cup.
DLR Waves 2023 Season
DLR Waves finished the 2023 League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division Season in 8th place out of 11 teams, recording 3 wins, 4 draws, and 13 defeats in 20 games, gaining a total of 13 points.
It was a transitional season for DLR as the majority of the 2022 squad left the team during the preseason transfer window, with more departures over the Summer. Coupled with a lengthy midseason break due the FIFA Women’s World Cup and a change in management, this year has been a big learning curve for a largely young squad.
Despite finishing near the bottom of the table there were positives to take away from the year. Waves finished 2nd in their group in the new All-Island Cup competition and were in with a chance of qualifying in the last round of group games. The highlight of the season came in the first round of the FAI Cup. Waves were handed a difficult draw against a star studded Wexford Youths side. DLR scored a late equalizer to take the game to extra time, and once again battled back with Izzy Finnegan scoring a wonder strike in the dying minutes of the game. The match went to a penalty shootout in which DLR came out on top.
Goalkeeper Eve Badana was named club player of the year with Izzy Finnegan winning players player of the year. At underage level Lauren Strong and Ella Kelly won u19s player of the year and u17s player of the year respectively.
The 2023 season was notable for the launch of the DLR Waves player academy, which saw The Waves work with community partner clubs to provide a pathway from grassroots into the senor team.
We would like to thank all our players, coaching staff, and volunteers for their commitment throughout the season. And thank you to all the fans who followed us along the way.
2023 Women’s Premier Division Table
League
Position: 8th
Points: 13
Wins: 3
Draw: 4
Losses: 13
Goals Scored: 13
Goals Conceded: 31
Goal Difference -18
LOI Premier Division Results
Peamount United 1-0 DLR Waves
DLR Waves 3-0 Cork City
DLR Waves 0-0 AthloneTown
Bohemians 3-0 DLR Waves
DLR Waves 3-0 Sligo Rovers
Treaty United 0-0 DLR Waves
DLR Waves 0-2 Galway United
DLR Waves 0-2 Wexford Youths
Shelbourne 2-0 DLR Waves
Shamrock Rovers 4-3 DLR Waves
DLR Waves 0-0 Bohemians
Cork City 0-1 DLR Waves
Treaty United 0-2 DLR Waves
Wexford Youths 4-1 DLR Waves
DLR Waves 0-3 Peamount United
Galway United 2-0 DLR Waves
DLR Waves 0-2 Shelbourne
Athlone Town 1-0 DLR Waves
DLR Waves 1-3 Shamrock Rovers
Sligo Rovers 2-1 DLR Waves
All-Island Cup Results
Group Stage
Cork City 2-0 DLR Waves
DLR Waves 3-1 Crusaders
Treaty United 0-3 DLR Waves
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cork City | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 2 | DLR Waves | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 3 | Crusaders | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | Treaty United | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
FAI Cup Results
First Round
DLR Waves 3-3 Wexford Youths AET
(DLR Waves win 4-3 on Penalties)
Quarter Finals
Shelbourne 1-0 DLR Waves
FAI Cup Tie vs Wexford Youths
The highlight of the season was our FAI Cup tie vs Wexford Youths in which we twice came from behind to take to game to penalties before winning on spotkicks. Here are some pictures from a day that will live on long in the memories of Waves supporters.
Photos are supplied by club photographer Peter Minogue, follow him on Instagram here.
