As a footballer, Michael (Mick) McCarthy - who died tragically in a car accident on Wednesday night - was an inspirational figure, combining a nose for scores with a hard-working ethic that left many a defender in no doubt he wasn't your average forward.

When he captained O'Donovan Rossa, Skibbereen, to the All-Ireland club football championship title in 1993, McCarthy left his own personal stamp on affairs. McCarthy had the distinction of scoring 1-8 in the drawn game with Eire Og, Carlow, a record-equalling score for a final.

McCarthy was a consistent scorer for his club in that campaign, and was the only player to score in every game. He finished the championship with a total of 3-33 in six games, an average of seven points a game. In particular, his performance in the semi-final win over Lavey, when he scored 1-9, was quite exceptional.

That club win was the icing on the cake in a fine career. He'd won two All-Ireland senior medals with Cork, in 1989 and 1990. In 1990 he scored two points in the final. McCarthy, who captained Cork in 1993, also enjoyed a successful underage inter-county career, highlighted by three successive All-Ireland under-21 medals from 1984 to '86.