McCarthy enjoyed a 30-year club career, during which time he lined out with Rochestown, Passage and Shamrocks, as well as divisional sides Carrigdhoun and Seandún.
McCarthy's tenure with Waterford yielded Munster SHC and National League titles, while he ended his inter-county coaching career as Limerick manager.
McCarthy later spent a spell as player-manager with the Shamrocks club, winning a South East JHC medal in 1981.
He later returned to the Passage club and continued playing until 1991 when he retired after winning a city divisional junior league title.
McCarthy first appeared on the inter-county scene when he was selected for the Cork minor hurling team during the unsuccessful 1963 Munster MHC campaign.
[4][5] McCarthy was one of a number of players from the senior team who also won an All-Ireland U21HC medal after a defeat of Wexford that season.
[6] Cork endured two unsuccessful years after winning the All-Ireland title; however, McCarthy remained a key part of the team.
After winning his second Munster SHC medal following a first defeat of Tipperary in 12 years, McCarthy's preparations for the 1969 All-Ireland final came to a halt when, on the week of the game, he was involved in a motorbike accident on his way to training and broke his leg in three places.
In the long-term, McCarthy's injury meant that he also missed out on Cork's 1970 season, a year which saw the team capture further National League, Munster and All-Ireland honours.
For the third time in four years, Cork were presented with the possibility of making a clean sweep of all the available hurling titles, however, McCarthy's side suffered a 3–24 to 5–11 defeat by Kilkenny in the 1972 All-Ireland final, having led by eight points at one stage in the second half.
During his time out from the playing McCarthy travelled to the opposite end of the country where he was invited to give coaching lessons to the Antrim hurlers.
He was hugely successful in this capacity as Antrim claimed the All-Ireland title at intermediate level in 1970 following a convincing win over Warwickshire.
Kilkenny, the reigning champions and victors over Clare in the final of 1976, provided the opposition on this occasion and an interesting game ensued.
The team did reach the Munster final that year where McCarthy's native county of Cork provided the opposition.
Clare got off to a really bad start when they conceded a penalty after seventy-five seconds which was duly converted by Tim Crowley.
Clare's ability to get goals once proved the defining feature of a close game as McCarthy's side went on to win by 3–10 to 1–10.
With his first victory behind him McCarthy's team subsequently lined out against reigning Munster and All-Ireland champions Tipperary in the provincial final.
McCarthy's side came through the qualifiers system successfully, however, the random draw for the All-Ireland quarter-finals meant that Waterford had to play Cork for a second time.
The qualifiers proved a happy hunting ground for Waterford as they won every one of their games in the round robin and topped the group.
Cork were severely depleted due to the suspension of some of their key players, however, the game turned out to be another classic between the greatest hurling rivals of the decade.
McCarthy's men later faced Cork for the second time, however, the game ended in a draw after a controversial free.
Waterford has to play a third high-profile game in two weeks, and this showed on the day when Limerick caught them on the hop and won a place in the All Ireland final.
believed that Waterford were unfairly treated by the system and they should have got at least two weeks to prepare for the semi-final after playing two tough games against Cork.
Dan Shanahan and John Mullane spoke out and publicly said that he was the only man they wanted for the job and Once again their request was granted.
After a disappointing National League campaign and a nine-point loss to Clare in the first round of the championship a players meeting was held where it was indicated that some of the team no longer wanted McCarthy in charge.
In January 2010, members of the ousted Limerick hurling panel issued a lengthy statement hitting out at McCarthy and his management team ahead of the EGM of all county board delegates.
The statement highlighted their six main issues detailing back to the lack of communication in the lead up to the announcement of McCarthy's winter training panel in November 2009.
His role as Limerick hurling manager came under more pressure in March 2010 as it became clear that a special county board meeting had been arranged.
Born in Passage West, County Cork in 1945, McCarthy was raised in a family that had a strong association with hurling.
His uncles, Batt and Ger O'Mahony, played with the Young Irelands club in Boston and won the North American championship in 1934.