 After surrendering their titles the following year and losing the final to Glen Rovers in 1967, St. Finbarr's bounced back in 1968.McCarthy gave a great display at midfield and collected a second championship medal following a narrow 5–9 to 1–19 defeat of Imokilly.After an absence of six years, a period which also saw McCarthy serve a one-year ban from the game, St. Finbarr's returned to the top table of Cork hurling once again.