 As a member of the Cork senior football team also that season, he lined out at centre-forward when Cork faced Kerry in the Munster final on 15 July 1973.Coughlan was held scoreless throughout but ended the game with a third Munster Championship medal following the 5–12 to 1–15 victory.He retained his position on the starting fifteen for the All-Ireland final against Galway on 23 September 1973, however, Coughlan was switched from the half-forward line to midfield.