Kevin Hourihane had a dream and, in 1981, took the first steps to translating it into something more tangible when he affiliated St Patrick's Classical School in Navan to the schools section of the IRFU.

The former junior rugby player in Skibbereen, who had completed his H-Dip in the old NIHE in Limerick set about establishing rugby in the school.

Just before Christmas, Hourihane watched proudly as St Patrick's won the Senior Cup, Section A title and also the Junior equivalent. Not bad for a school with a fledgling rugby pedigree.

He would be the first to admit that the attitude of those in management positions at the Meath school has been nothing short of supportive - that a school that has such a huge reputation for Gaelic football excellence has found a place for rugby is amazing.

Hourihane conceded: "I had a tremendous interest in rugby, especially the schools code, and I suppose it was a bit of a dream to try and get it up and running. We were affiliated in 1981 and the following year started to play in the cups (senior and junior). We took a bit of a break in the mid-1980s, but since then have competed pretty much every year.

"The local club, Navan RFC, have been a huge help to the school not only from the perspective of using their facilities.

"They have a great structure from mini-rugby up. In the 1980s you might get five lads who would have played rugby before when they came into first year. Down at Navan there are 160 playing at that age-group and below."

Navan, a progressive junior club, have provided the perfect foil for Hourihane's ambitions with St Patrick's Classical School.

Navan's Australian John Mulvihil provided tremendous assistance in coaching terms and his role has been taken up by an IRFU Youth Development Officer, Conor Power, who plays with DLSP.

"Conor has been tremendous in helping coach the seniors. At Junior Cup team level we have Séamus Peppard who has been with us for the past five years since arriving from Blackrock College and Michael O'Rourke who has worked with that age-group for the past two.

"Rugby has given the school an additional profile and the pupils an extra sporting outlet that they have embraced with gusto.

Hourihane admits: "The schools encourage the kids to play sport because we feel it helps as an outlet to let off steam after study."

The cross pollination between Gaelic football and rugby is manifest in the fact that two of the Senior Cup rugby team, Paddy Murray and Ciarán Kenny, also play for the senior Gaelic football side.

Throw in the mock-leaving certificate and it's easy to see how the diary fills up quickly.

Kenny played in St Patrick's victory over St Andrew's that enabled them to take their place among the elite in Section C of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup.

The previous day, the full back had played midfield for the Gaelic football team in the North Leinster League final.

The fact he was able to play both games illustrates the co-operation between the two codes in the school.

Former Meath football legend Colm O' Rourke is vice-principal at St Patrick's as well as coaching the football team. He arranged to have the final switched to the day before so as to accommodate the rugby match.

Hourihane explained: "Colm has been very supportive and we get on very well.

"We were both involved in the senior football team last year. He switched the game on our behalf.

"Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to play the rugby on that day. I suppose this year proves that we are making progress, having won the Section A junior title two years ago.

"There is a particularly good group at SCT level with four or five players who won the All-Ireland Under-18 Youths league with Navan on the school team.

"We know that it'll be very difficult against St Paul's, but we're not going to be overawed. If we can play to our ultimate ability then anything is possible and I'm not going to play that down.

"Anything we achieve now is a bonus. It's been a fantastic journey and we are aware that there will come a day when we will be rolled over. The support from the school, the club, the parents and the town has been fantastic."

St Patrick's Classical School have come a long way, but the attitude and dedication of those involved suggests that over the coming years this journey has many miles to run yet.