On 26 July 1970, Coughlan was selected at left corner-forward when Cork faced Kerry in the Munster final. He top-scored for Cork with 2-04 from play but ended the game on the losing side following the 2-22 to 2-09 defeat. After missing the Cork senior hurling team's Munster Championship campaign, Coughlan was recalled to the starting fifteen at midfield on 16 August 1970 for the 4-20 to 2-09 All-Ireland semi-final defeat of Antrim. On 6 September 1970, he was relegated to the substitutes' bench for the All-Ireland final against Wexford. Coughlan remained on the bench for the entire game but claimed an All-Ireland medal after the 6-20 to 5-10 victory in the first-ever 80-minute decider.