Born in Kinnitty, County Offaly, Coughlan first arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty-two when he made his senior debut with Offaly in the 1979-80 National Hurling League.
Born in Kinnitty, County Offaly, Coughlan first played competitive hurling in his youth. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty-two when he made his senior debut with Offaly in the 1979-80 National Hurling League.