Career
As an international McCarthy also represented both Ireland teams. He played as a senior for the FAI XI and as an amateur for the IFA XI. He remained an amateur player throughout his career. On 23 February 1924 McCarthy also played for a League of Ireland XI in a prestige friendly against Celtic.
The game was used by the FAI to raise funds to help send a squad, which included McCarthy, to the 1924 Olympic Games.
Both associations, the Northern Ireland - based IFA and the Irish Free State - based FAI claimed jurisdiction over the whole of Ireland and selected players from the whole island. As a result several notable Irish players from this era, including McCarthy played for both teams.
IFA XI McCarthy played at least one game for the IFA Amateur XI. In 1921 he played against France in Paris. FAI XI Between 1924 and 1930 McCarthy made 6 appearances for the FAI XI. The first two of these games were played at the 1924 Olympics Games.
On 2 June McCarthy also played in this game against the Netherlands but the FAI XI lost 2-1 after extra-time.
On 21 March 1926 he also played in a 3-0 away defeat against Italy. His last two appearances for the FAI XI were both in away friendlies against Belgium.
