PETALING JAYA: Fergus Tierney has set his sights firmly on delivering silverware, with the Sabah forward determined to fire his side to Malaysia Challenge Cup glory.
Despite an inconsistent league campaign, the 23-year-old sees the upcoming two-legged final against Penang as the perfect opportunity for Sabah to end the season on a high.
The first leg will be held in George Town on April 4, with the return fixture in Kota Kinabalu on April 18.
“Our next target is definitely to win the Challenge Cup,” said Tierney.
“That’s what we’ve been working towards, and I hope I can play my part in helping the team achieve it.”
Tierney, who joined Sabah in July last year, has been one of the brighter sparks in a challenging season, scoring seven goals in 31 appearances across all competitions while often being deployed out wide.
Sabah’s domestic struggles have seen them slip to 10th in the Super League standings, well off their previous run of three straight third-place finishes, but cup competitions have offered a lifeline.
They also reached the FA Cup final earlier this season, though they were beaten by Johor Darul Ta’zim.
For Tierney, the ups and downs have been part of a valuable learning curve in his first full season in Malaysian football.
“It’s been a roller coaster, with the highs of reaching finals and the challenges in the league, but I’ve learned a lot,” he said.
The Glasgow-born forward, who has lived in Penang since childhood, has impressed with his work rate, movement and versatility, adapting to multiple roles across the frontline while continuing to develop his game and he is increasingly showing the potential to become a focal point up front, in a role similar to Darren Lok.
“One of the main reasons I joined Sabah was to get as much game time as possible, which has been great for my development,” said the player, whose father Martin Tierney was a former professional footballer with Penang and Police in the past.
“My numbers have been decent, especially as I’ve played mostly on the wing this season, but I always want to contribute more goals and assists.”
