ANALYSIS: Who are Balla Secondary School's All-Ireland final opponents?

THE journey to an All-Ireland title is a long and winding one. Getting to a final is half the battle, but only half the battle.

Saturday's battle in Ballyshannon is the other portion.

Balla have journeyed through Connacht and succeeded in an All-Ireland semi-final, now they must climb the hill again in order to wrote their name in history.

Are they capable of doing so? Of course they are. They've been doubted all season, but they've never doubted themselves.

They were blown away in the first round of the Flanagan Cup – they grew stronger. They were doubted all through the provincial campaign – they grew stronger.

They were underdogs in many eyes going into the All-Ireland semi-final – they grew stronger. Now, they have one big challenge left.

The boys in blue are known for their meticulous preparation. Their game-plans are legendary at this stage and have defied the odds all along the way. Their last two outings illustrate this perfectly.

In the Connacht Final against Gortnor Abbey they shut down Kobe McDonald, Dylan Flynn and their colleagues.

In the All-Ireland semi-final they stymied a Carrigaline attack that kicked huge scores throughout their Munster campaign.

Team captain Sean Brohan leads a defensive unit where Ryan Donnell and his dogs of war have been excellent. Up front Charlie Fallon and Liam Glynn deservedly get most of the headlines, but Balla are a team in the true sense of the word.

They play for each other, they play for the jersey for the school, for the tradition. It will take a team, a squad, a school and a community to win this one, but that's what Balla Secondary School have.

That's why they have a 50-50 chance on Saturday against the Ulster Champions.

St Ciaran's from Ballygawley come into Saturday's match on the back of a huge 5-20 to 0-4 win over St Paul's Raheny in the All-Ireland semi-final.

The scoreline illustrates the scoring power available to the St Ciaran's management team with one of Tyrone's brightest prospects Shea McDermott their shining star at centre-half-forward.

The Errigal Ciaran youngster kicked 1-11 against Raheny and is a seasoned inter-county attacker at this stage, having an All-Ireland U-20 medal to his name after Tyrone's win last season.

Centre-half-back Micheal Mullin also has an All-Ireland medal in his pocket and there are Celtic crosses dotted across the squad.

The Ulster champions have quality in every line with full forward Conan Canavan carrying on a stellar family tradition and right half back Elliot Kerr among those who have impressed throughout the campaign.

However, the Tyrone boys haven't been blowing everyone out of the water by any means and were pushed all the way by Cardonagh from Donegal in the Ulster Final before emerging victorious on a 4-12 to 2-15 scoreline.

It will take the performance of a lifetime from either side to win Saturday's final. Balla can do it, St Ciaran's likewise. It promises to be a cracker.