At the launch of the Hurling Development Committee's Hurling into 2000, the GAA's head of coaching Pat Daly remarked that among the signs of counties improving themselves, few were more impressive than the presence of Cavan at the top of Division Three.

By the end of the divisional matches last Sunday, Cavan had remained unbeaten and this weekend the county will be trying to copperfasten progress when they face Mayo in the Division Three final with both promotion and medals at stake.

Set against the background of Cork's and Waterford's re-emergence into the early sunshine of a League final, this year's Division Three title might set few pulses racing but it is the culmination of a remarkable resurrection for a county which two years didn't have a hurling team.

After years of exciting no more edifying attention than a humourous feature in a Sunday paper, Cavan decided to withdraw from the NHL altogether and only last season - three years later - did they venture back into competition. In terms of inter-county meltdown, it was unprecedented: even Kilkenny's footballers (the code's only non-senior team) compete in the football League.

Beneath the surface, however, things were stirring. James Lovatt from Tipperary became coaching officer for the county and began to concentrate on spreading the word at under-age level. That was four years ago and whereas he says it's too early to detect fruition, the county has been sufficiently invigorated at senior level to make remarkable strides.

Hurling is a very hierarchical sport. Even within the top ranks, there are counties perennially inferior to others, although recent breakthroughs have modified this. Second-rate counties are greatly superior to third-rate and even at the bottom, there is a pecking order. Teams who shuttled between Division Four and Three (the new Divisions Three and Two) invariably found the step-up too much and then there was Cavan.

For the county to win two matches on its re-entry to the NHL last season was a major achievement. Managed again this year by Meath Railway Cup medallist Paddy Kelly, Cavan have improved significantly and are now one match away from promotion.

"It's been a good season," says James Lovatt. "The Cavan players (some of the hurlers are natives of other counties) played particularly well on Sunday. They're young and light and the pitch was in good condition. We haven't been surprised - and that's not being boastful or arrogant - because a lot of preparation went into the team. Challenge matches played before the League began and the Oireachtas Shield before Christmas were a big help.

"Paddy (Kelly) is a big plus. He's excellent and the players are working a lot harder this year. Last season they took it easy in the first year but now there's training twice a week and no less than 20 at a session."

Lovatt's endeavours have been greatly helped by Croke Park and he acknowledges the assistance. "It's had a huge bearing on what we've achieved. Getting things set up and funding equipment have been of more benefit to the county than me."

At under-age level there have been manifest results. Two years ago, Killeshandra won the Feile na nGael Division Four title. Only recently, the under-16s took part in a blitz tournament in Dublin and won Division Two beating Longford, Louth and North Dublin in the final.

At Easter the Ulster Council held its own Feile, the culmination of a three-year development programme. Ninety teams were divided into 12 divisions and Cavan fielded nine of the contestants. Two of them reached the Division Five and Eight finals, respectively.

In July, Lovatt's under-16s will be contesting the All-Ireland C competition and "hoping to give it a go" with a team containing 13 survivors of last year's competition.

Paddy Kelly's seniors will open their Ulster junior campaign on Sunday week against Donegal hoping to improve on last year's first-round defeat by eventual champions Monaghan.

Lovatt's medium-term ambitions are straightforward. "It'll be two or three years before you see a full native Cavan team but it'll be able to compete. Maybe not against Kilkenny but in Division Two which would be a big step-up for us. There's still huge gaps in hurling but at last, hopefully, we'll be able to compete."