DLR Waves were formed in 2012, with the club joining the Women’s National League (the previous name for the League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division) for the 2012-2013 season along with the six founding members.
The club was formed with the support of the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, who to this day still support DLR Waves. Larry Mahony, who previously managed the UCD women’s football team, took charge of the side for the inaugural season.
The Waves finished 5th out of 7 teams in their first WNL campaign. The clubs record in the league out of 18 games was 5 wins, 1 draw, and 12 defeats, with 25 goals scored and 46 conceded. Our captain and star player at the time was Sylvia Gee who had established herself as an Ireland international at that stage of her career. The Offaly native had been a major part of the UCD side that achieved success domestically and partook in the UEFA Women’s Cup. Sylvia had previously played under Larry Mahony at UCD and joined up with the coach again at The Waves. In her second and final season with the club Sylvia was awarded the WNL Hall of Fame award.
The 2013-14 season saw improvements for DLR Waves in a league that now consisted of 8 teams. The waves finished with a record of 7 wins, 6 draws, and 8 defeats out 21 games, with 34 goals scored and 38 conceded
Following the 2013-14 season the relationship between DLR Waves and the UCD Senior Women’s Football team was further solidified with a merger between the clubs, leading the a new era for the club as UCD Waves.
Next Chapter: UCD Waves 2014-2018
