We are delighted to announce the schedule of cup finals as of today, with over 97 cup finals taking place in what has become Ireland’s largest underage event of the year.

This is a massive undertaking for the league, involving 4,000 participants and almost 20,000 spectatorsacross both weekends.

The finals will take place on Saturday/Sunday 16th–17thand Saturday/Sunday 23rd–24th. There will be no more than two kick-off times per day, to help manage the large volume of cars and people attending.

We will need huge support from our clubs to ensure the smooth operation of this event. The focus on the day must always be about the players and the experience they have (win or lose). Everything we do impacts that experience, so thank you in advance for your cooperation and support.

Clubs are advised that no alterations or cancellationswill be permitted to the event schedule under any circumstances. Further information will be issued to teams and clubs as they progress to participating in finals.

Finalist packs will be issued closer to the event and will include player/coach wristbands, car park vouchers, match cards, and other relevant materials.

All tickets for the event will go on sale on 1st May, and the event is expected to sell out. Car parking is limited and also expected to fill quickly, so we strongly suggest clubs inform parents early and encourage car-pooling where possible. Fixtures and ticket links will be launched across all our website and social media channels on 1st May.

An online meeting for all managers of finalists will be held during the week before the finals (approximately 30 minutes).

This will cover key areas such as organising on the day, sideline behaviour, referee abuse, player registrations, and match cards. Please note that player panel validation and match cards will be completely onlinefor all finals. Clubs must ensure all panels are complete, with a registered coach assigned to each team to operate match cards for the finals.

Further communication will follow closer to the time. Along with our partners Q102, we will be piloting a number of initiatives during the event, including silent sidelines, and the support of clubs and parents will be essential to their success.

Attached Cup Final Days/Times below:

DDSL Cup Finals 2026

To All Club Secretaries:

Following on from our FSMT (Football Senior Management Team) meeting recently, please see below a number of important issues:

CLOSING/OPENING DATES SEASON 2025/26:

 As you are aware this weekend 13^th/14^th December 2025 will be the last weekend for Fixtures for the first half of the season. The following are the openings dates for fixtures in January 2026 together with a number of DDSL/SFAI/FAI/LFA Cup games included:

• Weekend 3^rd/4^th January : No Games
• Weekend 10^th/11^th January: SFAI ‘Catch Up Games’ will be Scheduled. Clubs by agreement may play at earlier times subject to League permission
• Weekend 17^th/18^th January: All DDSL Divisions aged u11 and above will have full schedule. Some u17s/18s may have various cup games
• Weekend 24^th/25^th January: Full fixture list for all ages which will include Boys/Girls u8’s to u10’s; DDSL Cup Games, and LFA/FAI cup games.
• Weekend 31^st/1^st: January/February: DDSL League Games/SFAI Cup Games and some DDSL Cup games

 

• Note Weekend 9^th/10^th May: SFAI Cup Finals
• Note Weekends 16^th/17^th May & 23^rd/24^th May 2026 DDSL Cup Finals over two weekends.

RESULTS:

• Please ensure to forward all results to results@ddsl.ie & please also include the relevant DDSL Fixture Secretaries as they can cross check results in the event of a dispute/discrepancy
• Any changes/queries must be notified to the DDSL Fixture Secretaries before the 31^st December 2025

Club Results Officials

Following on from our notification mail on the 14^th of November where we announced a Phase 1 release to clubs

We have had 54 clubs respond with a dedicated Results Official to date. These Results Officials will have received an intro email with follow on instructions to assist in the input of their club’s Home results.

This function allows clubs:

• Input results immediately following the Home game.
• Automatically update the fixtures result live on the Web and the League App.
• Automatically update the Competition Table live on the Web and the League App.

Any club yet to avail can do so by sending in their details as below to admin@ddsl.ie as soon as possible.

1. Club Name:
2. Results Official Name:
3. Results Official email address:

Phase 2 of this project will go live in 2026 whereby a club can provide multiple Results Officials to carry out the function.

DDSL SECRETARY/BDO & REFEREE Next Meetings in 2026:

• Please note the next DDSL REFEREE meeting will take place in the Sports Conference Room Abbotstown (Next to the FAI H/O) on Monday 19^th January 2026 from 7.30pm to 9.15pm.
• Please note the next DDSL Club Secretaries/BDO meeting will take place in the Sports Conference Room (Next to the FAI H/O) on Monday 26^thJanuary 2026 from 7.30pm to 9.15pm. All clubs required to be present.

TRANSFER WINDOW 2026:

• Players at all AGES can transfer from the 1^st January to the 28^th January 2026. NOTE : There will be NO ‘Transfers’ allowed after the official closing Transfer Window date of the 28^th Jan 2026.
• Please note …as per our DDSL Rule Book….Players are not allowed to play ‘Across their Own Age Group’ This also applies to the SSG. E.g. u9-1 Sat player cannot play Sun u9-4 etc. We have received a number of reports where players in the SSG are playing both Sat & Sun for the same club & age group….resulting in other players on the Sunday team not been allocating the proper minimum ’Playing Times’ Please ensure all your manager/coaches are updated on these issues/rules.
• Clubs are reminded to check all panels to ensure all your players are registered. The league (as last year)will undertake an audit of all clubs & Teams over the coming weeks on registration numbers. We will also be auditing match cards to ensure compliance and to ensure every child is insured and protected while playing in the DDSL.
• Please be aware of the consequences of unregistered players which is detailed the Rules

 

FINES:

• All O/S fines must be paid before the commencement of the 2^nd half of the season.

DDSL CUPS RETURNED:

As you are aware, we have been in contact with all Clubs who were successful in winning Cups as League Winners or/and Cup Finals for last season. We have a total of 239 Cups to be returned & thank you to all those clubs who have returned their Cups on time. However, there are still 70+ Cups that have not yet been returned despite the League extending the deadline twice. See rule & fine below.

Reminder of DDSL Rule : Section 1 Rule 3.3

All Cups and League trophies must be returned to the league no later than 31st of October every year. Failure to do so shall result in a fine of €100 per week or part of. Clubs in possession of cups shall be notified in writing prior to this deadline to return same. Clubs who fail to return cups within sixty days after the listed return date, in addition to the listed fines, will incur a full replacement cost of the cup or €750.00 whichever is the greater. Clubs failing to make full payment within thirty days of an issued invoice will have all club games suspended pending league action.

SSG SURVEYS/RE-GRADING:

• There will be the normal Re-grading for the SSG Divisions/Teams which will depend mainly on the Surveys for u8’s/u9’s…..u10’s (Plus Results Received). The u11’s will be based on Results/Requests only.
• Surveys Forms are Available now as advised in our last e-mail on Thursday & must be completed by Friday 19^thDecember 2025 to be included for the re-grading.
• Teams/coaches not completing these ‘Survey Forms….will not be included in any re-grading process.

NEW SSG TEAMS:

• New teams from ‘Existing Clubs Only’ are permitted to enter for the 2^nd Half of the Season for Age Groups Boys/Girls u8’ to u11’s only (NO New Teams permitted for ‘Competition Divisions’ (u12 to u18’s)
• Please notify Regerations@ddsl.ie & contact Mick for New Boys u8 to u10 Teams; Conor Boys U11’s & Zoe for Girls Teams.
• Closing date for new teams applying will be the Sunday 21st^t Dec 2025
• There will be no cost for these teams.
• However, all players with these new Teams must pay & register on ‘Sportlomo’.
• U7’s Boys/Girls Divisions. As per previous years, there will be new Divisions set up for u7’s Boys/Girls….due to start in March. Dates & more information to follow.

 

XMAS FOOTBALL FOR ALL

• Our next DDSL Football for All Blitz will take place next Sunday 21^st December from 10am to 12.30pm on the ‘Indoor Astro’ in the sports Ireland Complex in Abbotstown.  Details available with Santa/Mrs Clause/ Selection Boxes included etc.
• We currently have 100+ players participating
• However, if there are any clubs who have a small number of players with ‘Special Needs’ & are not yet involved with FFA, let me know …at gm@ddsl.ie….& I will look to include them in the Blitz. A great way for new players/parents to get involved & see what great opportunities there are available.

 

DDSL ‘BORN TO LEAD ‘ Programme for Junior Match Officials (JMO): REMINDER:

As per our previous e-mail on the 8^Th December, please look to encourage & recruit as many Junior Match Officials as you can.

• Al clubs are asked to recruit two (2) refs per six (6) SSG teams up to under 11 to join and kick start the programme.
• The registration link for all registrations is

https://ddsl.sportsmanager.ie/sportlomo/registration/event-registration/index/14189

 DDSL WALKING FOOTBALL INTRODUCTION:

As you are aware, there is currently ‘Walking Football’ in place & run by different organisations. The DDSL are planning to set-up ‘Walking Football’ for our own Clubs/Members which will be based on ‘Non-Competition/ Fun’. It will be a great way for keeping Men/Women active as well as getting them involved with their local clubs.  We have spoken with a number of Clubs/Councils/GP’s etc….very well received & therefore we hope to launch in the 2^nd Half of the season. See below some proposals & we would be grateful for any suggestions/ideas/comments.  Please contact Mick at gm@ddsl.ie for further updates or suggestions etc

 

Presenting your DDSL x Dublin’s Q102 Unsung Heroes 🦸‍♂️🦸‍♀️⚽️

Thank you to all who voted & well done to all who where voted for 👏🏻

Photos @strikeronline 🤝

Our 10 Unsung heroes
Billy Freeland (Leicester Celtic)
Christy Kiernan (Glasnevin FC)
Damien Kilpatrick (Broadford Rovers FC)
Elaine Harrington (Peamount United)
Grace Richardson (Sheriff YC)
Lee Doyle (Sporting Greystones)
Rachel Starrs (Finglas United)
Sabrina Burke (Crumlin United)
Tony McEvoy (Hartstown Hunstown FC)
Rob Henderson (Stella Maris FC)

#herores #q102unsungheroes #ddslunsungheroes

 

DDSL UPDATES:

DDSL CLOSING/OPENING DATES:

• The closing date for all fixtures including SSG will be Fri/Sat/Sun 12^th/13^th/14^thDecember.
• We await the update from the different County Councils on their opening of their ‘Parks/Pitches’. Once we are notified on these dates, we will confirm the dates for the different Age groups to return with fixtures in the New Year…for the 2^nd half of the season
• We will be encouraging all clubs to continue to play ‘Competitive Games’ during the break due to the weather in the last few weeks. Cup games will be the focus and clubs with facilities are encouraged to play as much as possible. All games must be approved by the league secretaries in advance.

 

SILENT/SIDELINES

• As there continues to be more Disciplinary Issues relating to ‘Sideline Behaviour’ we will be introducing dates for all clubs to follow our ‘Silent Sideline’ initiative. In the past this has worked very well & thank you to the clubs for observing this.
• Dates for ‘Silent Sideline’ to be observed
• 2025: Weekend of; NOV 29^th/30^th; DEC 13^th/14^th
• 2026: Weekend of: JAN 24^th/25^th; FEB 7^th/8^th ; 21^st/22^nd; MARCH 14^th/15^th; 28^th/29^th; APRIL 18^th/19^th; All of MAY
• All clubs are expected to enforce and promotes these activities to create the right environment that all players deserve

DDSL CUP FINALS DATES:

• The DDSL Cup Finals will be held in the AUL Complex again this season. However, for season 2025/2026 there will be 2x weekends where the Cup finals will be played as the number of Cup Finals continues to increase
• Dates: Weekends: May 16^th/17^th & 23^rd/24^th.
• There will be 2x Sets of Cups Final Times each day. This will help with the managing of the event/car parking
• A schedule of all finals will be issued in the coming weeks and as in previous years cancelations will not be permitted.

 

RETURNED LEAGUE & CUP FINAL CUPS

• As you are aware, all Cups were due to be returned by the 31^st October 2025. Thank you to those close clubs who have returned their Cups.
• There are 239 Cups in total to be returned & as of now…more than half of the CUPS have yet to be returned.
• As stated on our initial e-mail re ‘Returned Cups’ we will begin to issue fines to clubs for failure to return the Cups ASAP
• If myself or any other DDSL official are not present in the DDSL offices in Abbotstown….Cups can be left at the FAI Reception where we have a ‘DDSL Registration Returned Cup’ sheet to be completed on returning the Cups. Their office hours are strictly 9.30am to 1pm & 2pm to 4.30pm. The Cups can also be returned to ‘FAI Security’/Reception’ from 5.30pm to 8.30pm Monday’s/Thursdays only.
• Clubs not returning cups on or before 1^st December will be subject to weekly fines as per the DDSL rule book….you have been told!

TRANSFER WINDOW 2026:

• Please see attached the FAI Winter Transfer Dates. Players at all ages can transfer from the 1^st January to the 28^th January 2026. NOTE : There will be no ‘Transfers’ allowed after the official closing Transfer Window date of the 28^th Jan 2026.
• Please note …as per our DDSL Rule Book….players are not allowed to play ‘Across their Own Age Group’ This also applies to the SSG. E.g. u9-1 Sat player cannot play Sun u9-4 etc. We have received a number of reports where players in the SSG are playing both Sat & Sun for the same club & age group….resulting in other players on the Sunday team not been allocating the proper minimum ’Playing Times’ Please ensure all your manager/coaches are updated on these issues/rules.
• Clubs are reminded to check all panels to ensure all your players are registered. The league (as last year)will undertake an audit of all clubs & Teams over the coming weeks on registration numbers.We will also be auditing match cards to ensure compliance and to ensure evey child is insured and protected while playing in the DDSL.
• Please be aware of the consequences of unregistered players which is detailed the Rules

SSG SURVEYS

• As normal there will be the normal Re-grading for the SSG Divisions/Teams which will depend mainly on the Surveys for u8’s/u9’s…..u10’s (Plus Results Received). The u11’s will be based on Results/Requests only.
• We will issue these Surveys for u8’s to u10’s for Boys/Girls in late November. Teams/coaches not completing these ‘Survey Forms….will not be included in any re-grading process.

RESULTS

• There ae still a good number of results not been returned. If you are one of these clubs, please ensure your results are returned to results@ddsl.ie every week & cc’d to the relevant DDSL Fixture Secretaries as it is creating more work for our ‘Fixture Secretaries’ chasing up results.
• Where Cup Games are played…please have these results returned ASAP as future fixtures will need to be changed taking into account the Winners etc.
• Where your games are postponed….we still need to know if the game was not played otherwise, we are chasing clubs to confirm whether the games were played etc
• For All Secretaries…please have your managers of each team…along with yourself…. To check all your results to ensure the results are correct. As we enter the 2^nd half of the season, the results published will be the results recorded entering into the 2^nd half of the season. Therefore, if there are any results incorrect, you must contact results@ddsl.ie & the relevant fixture Secretary ASAP  to investigate. All these queries must be completed before the 2^nd half of the season otherwise the results recorded will remain in place.

FOOTBALL FOR ALL

• We now have up to 20 DDSL Clubs with 35+ teams & up to 250+ players.
• For those existing clubs, please ensure your players are registered with the DDSL as we want all players to be part of the DDSL & covered by Insurance. Previous details were already forwarded to all clubs. Any issues, let me know
• For any Clubs, looking to set up a ‘Football for All’ section…please contact me at the details below. Most of our FFA players still continue to join our clubs….through ‘Word of Mouth’ We intend to publicise FFA on a wider scale to ensure as many parents/players/organisations i.e. Down syndrome Ire etc are aware of opportunity to play football at any level.
• There will be ‘Football for All’ Introduction & Coaching Course’ organised shortly for any existing coaches/parents who would like to get involved. Well worth it. Again e-mail me if interested.
• Next DDSL Football for All Blitz will take place  on Sunday 21^st December on the ‘Indoor Astro’. Details to follow with Santa/Selection Boxes included etc.

DDSL 3v3: REMINDER

110 Boys & Girls teams booked in to date with a good spread of divisions. Places are limited at some age groups.

Please share amongst coaches in your clubs.

3v3 Skills Festival – 15^th & 16^th November 2025

We’re thrilled to invite you to our upcoming 3v3 Skills Festival at the Sport Ireland Indoor Dome, Abbotstown, taking place on 15th & 16th November

This fun-filled event is open to boys and girls aged U7–U11 (born 2015–2019) and will feature:

⚽ Fast-paced 3v3 games
🎯 Engaging skill sessions
👥 Squads of 4 players
💶 €60 per squad (+ booking fee)

📍 Location: Sport Ireland Indoor Dome, Abbotstown
📅 Dates: 15th & 16th November
🔗 Booking: HERE

 

 

DDSL Workshops

 

Please share with your coaches.

DDSL Workshop	Topic	Venue	Date	Time	Book
Coerver Coaching Workshop	Ball Mastery & 1v1s Level 2	Abbotstown	10th November	7pm-9pm	HERE
FAST Workshop	Will further educate coaches on the theory & practical application on the fundamentals of movement & speed. Part 3	Abbotstown	17th November	7pm-9pm	HERE
DDSL Club Workshop	Developing Touch	TBC (Northside)	17th November	7pm-9pm	HERE
Coerver Coaching Workshop	2v2s & Small Group Play Level 2	Abbotstown	24th November	7pm-9pm	HERE
FAST Workshop	Will further educate coaches on the theory & practical application on the fundamentals of movement & speed. Part 4	Abbotstown	1st December	7pm-9pm	HERE
DDSL Club Workshop	Developing Touch	TBC (Southside)	1st December	7pm-9pm	HERE
Coerver Coaching Workshop	Passing & Receiving Level 2	Abbotstown	8th December	7pm-9pm	HERE