 Despite playing through the pain barrier with a troublesome hamstring, McElhinney completed the match and helped Derry win back-to-back Ulster titles.Derry faced Kerry in the 1976 All-Ireland semi-final, but despite McElhinney winning the midfield battle with Jack O'Shea, Derry were defeated.The Kerry side of the late 1970s / early 1980s is often regarded as the best team of all time.