Coleman first appeared for the Millstreet club at underage levels, winning a host of divisional minor championship medals.
Following the abolition of the ban in 1972, Coleman combined his Gaelic football career with one in rugby union.
Coleman missed two guilt-edged goal opportunities, however, Cork built up an impressive eleven-point lead.
Sligo launched a stunning comeback in the final twenty minutes and were unlucky not to claim a draw.
Trailing by 0-8 to 0-3 shortly after the interval, Cork staged a comeback courtesy of two goals by Declan Barron.
He was an unused substitute that year, however, he collected a Munster medal from the bench as Cork defeated Kerry by 1-14 to 1-11.
He won a third successive Munster medal that year as Cork defeated Waterford by 1-10 to 2-5 in the provincial decider.
Coleman made his senior championship debut for Cork on 13 June 1971 in a 2-10 to 0-5 Munster semi-final victory over Clare.
At the other end of the field, Coleman, in spite if suffering from concussion, curbed the threat of Galway captain and centre-forward Liam Sammon.
A Galway revival saw them cut the margin to just three points when Tom Naughton scored a goal, but Cork's response was controlled and efficient.
Ray Cummins steadied Cork with three points in quick succession before setting up Jimmy Barry-Murphy for the clinching goal.
A certain amount of over-confidence crept into the side as Cork were subsequently defeated by eventual champions Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final.