Shelbourne host Cork City as 2017 Women's National League kicks off on St Patrick's Day weekend

The 2017 Women's National League season kicks off on St Patrick's Day weekend as reigning champions Shelbourne host Cork City at Morton Stadium on the opening day.

The league returns to a full 18-game calendar following a truncated season in 2016 as the transition was made to summer soccer, while the Women's National League Shield also returns.

Shels head into the season with two notable absentees as Rebecca Creagh and the league's player of the season Noelle Murray having left for Brisbane side Michelton and Scottish champions Glasgow City respectively.

But they'll be buoyed by the arrival of Irish internationals Niamh Prior and Roma McLaughlin and a 2016 season that saw them dominate all-comers, triumphing in the FAI Cup and clinching the title with two games to spare.

Galway also host last year's runners-up UCD Waves at Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday evening, March 18^th, while the Watershed will play host to Kilkenny United and Peamount United the following afternoon.

Last season's beaten cup finalists Wexford Youths have a bye the first week but kick off week two by welcoming Galway to Ferrycarrig Park on Saturday, March 25^th.

Shels make the short trip across Dublin to play Peamount United in Greenogue, while the Sunday fixture sees Kilkenny travel to the UCD Bowl to face the Students.

Shield quarter-finals are scheduled for the following week, ending April 2^nd, while the League Cup quarter-finals are set for the weekend of May 28^th.

The full schedule for the 2017 Women's National League can be downloaded from the FAI website here.