Cork GAA dual icon Denis Coughlan dies aged 80

The Glen Rovers and St Nick's clubman has died days before his 81st birthday.

LEGEND: Cork dual legend Denis Coughlan, who has passed away. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Glen Rovers, St Nick’s, and Cork GAA dual great Denis Coughlan has died at the age of 80.

Across his 16 seasons wearing the red of Cork in both codes, Coughlan won all there was to win. His headline collection was an incredible five All-Irelands, 12 Munster titles, four All-Stars.

Of his five Celtic Crosses, four were for hurling success on the concluding day of the 1970, ‘76, ‘77, and ‘78 seasons.

Coughlan was hurling’s All-Star left half-back during each of the three-in-a-row years, as well as outright hurler of the year in the middle of those all-conquering campaigns. He claimed his first of four All-Stars when selected at midfield in 1972.

The Cork football team that win the 1973 All-Ireland against Galway with Denis Coughlan, back row and extreme right. Picture; Connolly Collection / SPORTSFILE

On the football side, he was Cork’s unsuccessful captain on the afternoon of the county’s 1967 All-Ireland final defeat to Meath. He was at midfield six years later when Galway were bested to return Sam Maguire Leeside for the first time in 28 years. A year later in ‘74, he won a second Munster SFC medal as Cork captain.

His club career was similarly decorated and drenched in silverware.

The Glen Rovers team of 1967: Back, from left: Denis O’Riordan; Patsy Harte; Denis Coughlan; Mick Lane; Maurice Twomey; Dave Moore; Jerry O’Sullivan; Tom Corbett. Front, from left: Mick Kenneally; Jackie Daly; John Young; Seanie Kennefick, captain; Bill Carroll; Christy Ring and Finbarr O’Neill

Starting with Glen Rovers, his playing haul included five county titles, three in Munster, and two All-Ireland clubs. He also held the distinction of serving as captain for the Glen’s maiden All-Ireland success of 1973 when they overcame St Rynagh’s of Offaly.

An equally proud St Nick’s clubman, he tasted Cork senior glory in the black and white in 1965 and ‘66, winning a Munster club title - at the time an unofficial competition - in the second of those years.

Coughlan's passing arrives days before his 81st birthday.