The game saw a record 64-point score line for both teams as Cork's Eddie O'Brien scored a hat-trick of goals to give Cork a considerable lead. At the full-time whistle Cork were the winners by 6–21 to 5–10, giving McCarthy his second All-Ireland medal. After missing Cork's National League decider victory over Limerick in 1972, McCarthy later won a fourth Munster medal following a 6–18 to 2–8 thrashing of Clare. The subsequent All-Ireland decider saw Cork face Kilkenny. The Rebels dominated the early exchanges and went eight points clear after a long-range score from wing-back Con Roche in the 17th minute of the second half. Remarkably they didn't score again. Kilkenny took control with Pat Henderson a key figure at centre-back and Eddie Keher cutting loose up front. They were level after a Frank Cummins goal and went on to win by eight points. Two years later in 1974 McCarthy won a third National League medal as Cork defeated Limerick on a huge score line of 6–15 to 1–12. The following year McCarthy was captain of the team for a second time and won his fifth Munster medal following a 3–14 to 0–12 defeat of reigning provincial champions Limerick.  1976 saw McCarthy win a sixth Munster medal as Limerick were bested once again. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork face old rivals Wexford. In one of the worst starts to a championship decider, Cork were 2–2 to no score in arrears after just six minutes. The Rebels fought back to level matters by half-time, however, it was the long-range point-scoring by Pat Moylan that turned the game for Cork. A 2–21 to 4–11 victory gave McCarthy his third All-Ireland medal. A 4–15 to 4–10 defeat of newly crowned National League champions Clare gave him McCarthy a seventh Munster medal in 1977. The subsequent All-Ireland decider was a repeat of the previous year as Wexford stood in the way of a second successive title. Seánie O'Leary played the game with a broken nose after being hit in the face by a sliotar in a pre-match warm-up while the two oldest men on the team, Denis Coughlan and McCarthy, gave noteworthy displays. Martin Coleman made some miraculous saves in the dying minutes as Cork held on for a 1–17 to 3–8 victory.