PETALING JAYA: Sabah may have endured a turbulent season, but young striker Fergus Tierney emerged as one of the few bright spots in the Rhinos’ campaign.
The 23-year-old enjoyed an impressive debut season in the Super League, making 38 appearances in all competitions while contributing 10 goals and four assists.
Tierney was also among the most fouled players in the league, underlining his growing reputation as a dangerous attacking threat capable of troubling opposition defenders.
The Glasgow-born forward, who was raised in Penang, played a key role in helping Sabah win the Challenge Cup and reach the FA Cup final.
However, the campaign proved disappointing in the Super League, with the Rhinos finishing ninth after collecting just 23 points from 24 matches, a sharp decline from their third-place finish in the 2023-2024 season.
Versatile across the frontline, Tierney is now considered one of the frontrunners for the Malaysian Football League’s (MFL) Young Player of the Year award.
“This season has been very beneficial for me. As one of the youngest players in the league, getting so many minutes week in, week out, and starting almost every game has helped my development a lot,” said Tierney, whose father Martin Tierney once played for Police and is currently running a football academy in Penang.
“I’m proud to have contributed with goals and assists throughout the season.”
And he was open about Sabah’s performance throughout the season.
“Football brings the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, and we definitely experienced that this year.
“I just tried to focus on what I could control, working hard in training and giving everything every time I stepped onto the pitch.”
Tierney also hopes his performances will earn him more opportunities with the national team.
And if rumours are right that the National Under-23 team led by coach Nafuzi Zain could feature in the AFF Hyundai Cup in August, Tierney could have a strong chance to play in his second AFF tournament.
“Representing Malaysia is always a huge honour. If I get the opportunity to play for the senior national team again in another AFF tournament or any other international matches, I’ll definitely be excited and ready to give my best,” he added.
