Séamus Coughlan

Séamus Coughlan (1953 - 9 February 2013) was an Irish Gaelic footballer who played as a centre-forward for the Cork senior team.

Coughlan made his first appearance for the team during the 1973 championship and was a regular member of the starting fifteen until his retirement after the 1978 championship. During that time he won one All-Ireland medal on the field of play and two Munster medals as a non-playing substitute.^[1]

At club level Coughlan enjoyed a lengthy career with Nemo Rangers. He won three All-Ireland medals, five Munster medals and five county club championship medals.

Playing career

Club

Coughlan played his club hurling and football with the famous Nemo Rangers club and enjoyed much success.^[2]

In 1972 Coughlan was a key member of the Nemo Rangers senior football team that qualified for only their second Cork county championship decider. UCC provided the opposition, however, a 2-9 to 0-8 victory, with Coughlan scoring one of the goals, gave Nemo their first championship medal. Nemo subsequently defeated Doonbeg by 3-9 to 2-5 to take the Munster title. The All-Ireland final that year saw Nemo Rangers face St. Vincent's of Dublin. A 2-11 apiece draw was the result on that occasion, however, the replay saw Nemo triumph by 4-6 to 0-10. It was Coughlan's first All-Ireland medal.^[3]

Nemo surrendered their titles the following year, however, a 2-8 to 1-8 defeat of Carbery gave Coughlan a second county championship medal in 1974. He later added a second Munster medal to his collection following a 2-6 to 1-7 defeat of Austin Stack's.

1975 saw Nemo retain their county championship title following a 4-12 to 0-7 trouncing of Dohenys. The Munster final was a repeat of the previous year as Coughlan's side faced Austin Stack's once again. A 2-7 apiece draw was the result on that occasion. The replay was another drawn affair with Nemo recording 1-9 to Austin Stack's 2-6. A second replay eventually produced a winner with Coughlan winning a third Munster medal following a narrow 1-9 to 0-10 victory.^[4]

Three-in-a-row proved beyond Nemo, however, Coughlan won a fourth county championship medal in 1977 following a five-point win over St. Michael's.

Illness denied Coughlan of further county, provincial and All-Ireland medals during the 1978-79 season.

In 1981 Coughlan was reduced to the substitutes' bench as Nemo Rangers captured the county championship once again. He came on as a substitute to collect his fourth Munster medal as Nemo defeated Kilrush Shamrocks by 3-9 to 1-6. Coughlan was brought back onto the starting fifteen for the subsequent All-Ireland final against Garrymore. A 6-11 to 1-8 rout gave Coughlan his second All-Ireland medal.

Nemo surrendered all their titles again in 1982, however, a 4-12 to 2-3 defeat of Clonakilty gave Coughlan a fifth and final county championship medal in 1983. Doonbeg were comprehensively defeated by 2-10 to 0-3 in the provincial decider, giving Coughlan his fifth Munster medal. Walterstown provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland decider. A 2-10 to 0-5 victory gave Coughlan a third All-Ireland winners' medal.^[5]

Inter-county

Coughlan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a dual player in the minor grades.

He was an unused substitute in 1970 as the Cork minor hurling team captured the Munster and All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship titles. That same year Coughlan was a regular member of the starting fifteen with the Cork minor football team.

In 1971 Coughlan was captain of the Cork minor hurling team. He won his first Munster medal on the field of play that year following a 4-11 to 0-3 trouncing of Limerick. Coughlan was controversially dropped from the starting fifteen for the subsequent All-Ireland final against Kilkenny. He did come on as a substitute and collected an All-Ireland medal following a 2-11 to 1-11 victory.

1971 also saw Coughlan enjoy success with the Cork minor footballers. A 2-13 to 1-2 trouncing of Kerry gave him a Munster medal in that code. Cork were subsequently beaten by Mayo in the All-Ireland decider.

Coughlan subsequently progressed onto the Cork under-21 teams. He was an unused substitute as the hurling team secured the Munster and All-Ireland titles in 1973.

The following year Coughlan was in his third and final year as a member of the Cork under-21 football team. He won a Munster medal in this grade following a narrow 3-5 to 1-10 defeat of Kerry.

By this stage Coughlan had also joined the Cork senior football panel. He made his debut in the 1973 All-Ireland semi-final defeat of Tyrone, scoring 1-1 to send Cork into the All-Ireland decider. Galway were the opponents, however, Coughlan started the game on the subs' bench. He entered the game as a substitute for John Coleman as Cork went on the victory. Two goals by Jimmy Barry-Murphy helped Cork to a 3-17 to 2-13 win. The victory gave Coughlan a coveted All-Ireland medal.^[6]

Coughlan was on and off the starting fifteen over the next few years and last lined out for Cork as an unused sub during the 1978 championship.

Honours

Team

Nemo Rangers

• All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship (3): 1973, 1982, 1984
• Munster Senior Club Football Championship (5): 1972, 1974, 1975, 1981, 1983
• Cork Senior Club Football Championship (5): 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1983

Cork

• All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (1): 1973
• Munster Under-21 Football Championship (1): 1974
• All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship (1): 1971
• Munster Minor Hurling Championship (1): 1971 (c)

References