IT'S FINALLY HERE! Derry midfielder Diallo expects to challenge Rovers

Sadou Diallo is hoping his goal against Finn Harps in pre-season is a sign of things to come this season.

The midfielder’s effort from 25 yards was the highlight of the 6-0 win over Harps at the Brandywell at the start of the month, and, having shown his prowess in front of goal with two goals last year, he is hoping to find the net more regularly.

Diallo has no shortage of competition in midfield this year, and he will certainly need something to stand out to keep his place.

“It’s going to be a challenge this year but I’m looking forward to it. The gaffer wants me to get forward more and get in those positions and I do have a good strike on me, so hopefully.

Everyone in midfield is a good player individually so I’m going to have to be on it all the time to stake my place in the team. We know we can give anyone a game this year. The new season has come around very quickly this time so I’m looking forward to starting.”

Diallo took to life at Derry City very quickly last year and proved extremely popular amongst supporters, but his season ended disappointingly with a red card in the final league game against Dundalk after reacting to a bad challenge from Robbie McCourt. It meant a suspension for the FAI Cup final the following week.

“I was very emotional, almost heartbreaking,” he admitted. “The most important things was the team so it was important to get behind the team. We won the cup which was the most important thing, and I got the medal around my neck. Hopefully we can get back there this year and I can play this time.

Confident

Diallo is confident that Derry City can challenge Shamrock Rovers from becoming only the second team in the League of Ireland to win four titles in a row. Having experienced Irish football for the first time last year, he midfielder is excited about the possibilities a new season brings.

"I think finishing second last year, obviously the only way to better that is finishing first, so it goes without saying that the title is going to be a target for us,” he said.

"We know how hard it's going to be so we're going to have to earn it every day in training and in games but I look forward to that challenge.”

"I feel like you've got to respect Shamrock Rovers, winning leagues back to back. That's the standard and for us to achieve what they did we have to level that and go beyond.

"We don't really look at them or think about them too much. We just have to focus on ourselves but at the same time respect them and the challenges in and around that as well, so it's about focusing on every game at a time and we can achieve something special this year."