"Can I save you the trouble, love?" said McCarthy in his broad Yorkshire accent after recognising the dreaded two words in the lengthy question.
"I did not understand the question but I got the gist of what it was about," he continued. "We have moved on from that.
"There are 22 players in that dressing room and I will talk about any one of them.
"Other than that, the subject is closed as far as I am concerned."
Several further attempts to broach the subject were made by Japanese reporters who did not quite appreciate just how frustrated McCarthy has become with questions about Roy Keane. But they got nowhere.
"Something must have got lost in the translation. The answer is no comment," said McCarthy.
His approach was supported by defender Steve Staunton who has taken over as captain of the Ireland team.
"The match against Cameroon is the only thing on our minds.
"We have been focused. We have come here for a job and we are going to do it. You reporters can deal with it as you want."