Denis Coughlan (born 7 June 1945) is an Irish former hurler, Gaelic footballer and manager who played for Cork Senior Championship clubs Glen Rovers and St. Nicholas'.
From his debut, Coughlan was ever-present as a midfielder or left wing-back and made a combined total of 53 Championship appearances across both codes in a career that ended with his last game for the Cork hurling team in 1980.
At inter-provincial level, Coughlan was selected to play in several championship campaigns with Munster as dual player, with Railway Cup wins in 1972 as a Gaelic football and 1978 as a hurler.
In retirement from playing Coughlan became involved in team management and coaching at club and inter-county levels in both hurling and Gaelic football.
On 14 November 1965, Coughlan lined out at midfield in his first final of the Cork Senior Football Championship, with St. Finbarr's providing the opposition.
On 19 July 1967, Coughlan claimed a Munster Club Championship medal from midfield following St. Nicholas' 2–04 to 1–06 defeat of John Mitchels in the final.
After starting at right wing-back, he was switched to right wing-forward in an effort to increase the scoring threat, however, Coughlan ended the game on the losing side after a 0–09 to 0–08 defeat.
He claimed a Munster Club Championship medal on 10 April 1966 after lining out at midfield in the Glen's 3–07 to 1–07 defeat of Mount Sion in the final.
Coughlan was selected at midfield when Glen Rovers qualified to meet University College Cork in the 1969 final on 21 September 1969.
On 11 April 1971, Coughlan again lined out at midfield when Glen Rovers faced Roscrea in the delayed Munster Club Championship final.
On 22 April 1973, Coughlan claimed a second Munster Club Championship medal after scoring two points from play in the 2–09 to 1–10 defeat of Roscrea in the final.
He made his first appearance for the team on 14 July 1963 when he was selected at left corner-back in Cork's 0-08 apiece draw with Kerry in the Munster final.
Coughlan was just out of the minor grade when he was a late addition to the Cork under-21 football panel for the delayed 1963 Munster final against Kerry on 22 March 1964.
Coughlan was switched to left wing-back for the second replay on 13 November 1966 and claimed an All-Ireland Under-21 Championship medal at the third attempt following a 9–09 to 5–09 victory.
A week later on 21 July 1968, Coughlan lined out at midfield when the Cork senior hurling team faced Tipperary in the Munster final.
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.
A week later on 27 July 1969, Coughlan was selected at midfield when the Cork senior hurling team faced Tipperary in a second successive Munster final.
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.
He won a second Munster Championship medal on 18 July 1971 after scoring 0-10 after coming on as a substitute in Cork's 0–25 to 0–14 defeat of Kerry in the final.
On 7 May 1972, Coughlan won a second National Hurling League medal – his first on the field of play – after Cork's 3–14 to 2–14 defeat of Limerick in the final.
Two weeks later on 30 July 1972, Coughlan lined out at midfield when the Cork senior hurling team qualified to play Clare in the Munster final.
[12] In spite of the defeat, Coughlan ended the season by being named at midfield on the All-Star Team "for his hard work and devotion to the game and his county and for his dexterity and elegance in his play."
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.
[15] The lack of hurling action allowed Coughlan to commit solely to the Cork senior football team as captain for the second time in his career.
On 1 August 1976, he won a third Munster Championship medal after lining out at left wing-back in Cork's 3–15 to 4–05 defeat of Limerick in the final.
[17] On 4 September 1977, Coughlan lined out at left wing-back when Cork qualified to play Wexford in a second successive All-Ireland final.
Coughlan retained his position on the starting fifteen for the replay two weeks later and claimed a third National Hurling League medal after the 4–15 to 4–06 victory.
On 17 March 1977, Coughlan was selected at left wing-back when Munster qualified to play Leinster in the Railway Cup final.
He was selected in his customary position of left wing-back when Munster qualified to play Leinster in the final on 7 May 1978 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Coughlan first became involved in club management when he was appointed trainer of the St. Catherine's junior hurling team at the start of the 1983 season.