 A week later on 21 July 1968, Coughlan lined out at midfield when the Cork senior hurling team faced Tipperary in the Munster final.For the second week in succession he ended the Munster final on the losing side as the hurlers suffered a 2-13 to 1-07 defeat.Coughlan continued with his dual player status for the 1969 season, and won a National Hurling League medal as a non-playing substitute on 4 May 1969 after a 3-12 to 1-14 defeat of Wexford in the final.