James McCarthy has insisted it wasn't his intention to injure Donegal's Martin McElhinney during last month's controversial Allianz League clash at Croke Park.

The Dublin defender was sent off on a second yellow card along with Michael Murphy, but there was speculation afterwards that he could be hit with a restrospective ban after TV replays appeared to show one of his fingers making contact with McElhinney's left eye. However, the suspension never materialised and McCarthy was happy to set the record straight at yesterday's Cul Heroes launch.

"Look, some of the stuff you hear, it's not nice to hear," the Ballymun Kickhams clubman said.

"I had no intention of doing anything (wrong) there. I know Martin for years. I played football with him for years (in DCU). I have really good time for Martin. I was a bit surprised. Slowed down, it looked worse than it was. But it's in the past now. It was dealt with at the time.

"At times, you might think, because of some of the stuff that's being said, 'I might be in a bit of bother here'. But I had had no intention of doing anything wrong there. It can be frustrating, but more for your family. Your mother might be at home and she'd see some of it but I'm tough skinned myself. I wouldn't get too upset about it.

"It was one of those scuffles. They happen all the time. That photo that was going around probably didn't look great but there was nothing in it."

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