Shelbourne manager Pat Fenlon has had to draft in a couple of under-17 players as an injury crisis at the club has left him with only 13 fit first-team squad members.

Jim Crawford (hamstring), Greg O'Halloran (foot), Barry Ryan (knee), Richie Baker (ankle), Colin Hawkins (hand) and Joseph Ndo (hamstring) are all out for this evening's visit to UCD.

Gary Deegan, a reserve player who has been in the first-team squad recently, is also injured and will miss the game.

"We've got a fair few injuries at the moment which have all come together for some reason," said Fenlon, who has been forced to bring in Glen Humphries and Kevin McArdle from the youth team to fill the bench.

A spate of early season injuries is also baffling College manager Pete Mahon as he is without midfielder Conan Byrne (shin splints) while striker Paul Byrne is very doubtful with a thigh strain suffered against Drogheda last week.

Central defenders Alan McNally (hamstring) and Conor Kenna (dead leg) will be given every chance to prove their fitness.

"I don't know what it is," said Mahon on what's causing so many injuries. "Is it too much training? Is it solely down to the fact that the game is faster or a combination of both? I just don't know.

"I can hark back to the old days and I don't remember players getting so many injuries as they do today.

"We had some good games with Shels last year. I just hope we can play well, because if we do we'll give them a game."