 McCarthy filled a gap for Kerry, who lacked a specialist full-back of true inter-county class and had been forced to deploy the great half-back Séamus Moynihan in that position before McCarthy claimed the No.3 jersey.McCarthy won the All-Ireland senior football championship with Kerry on four occasions, in 2000, 2004, 2006 and again in 2009.He will be remembered for his total containment of Conor Mortimer during the 2006 final against Mayo, in his final game of inter-county football.