The game itself was a disappointing affair, with Ireland only managing a 2-0 triumph over the minnows at the Aviva Stadium to establish a five-point gap at the top of Group D.
Denmark and Switzerland both have games in hand and the Irish will need to improve in the second half of their campaign, which resumes at home to the Swiss in September, if they are to qualify.
McCarthy said: "We've got 10 points. I was amazed, actually, by the reaction to just winning 2-0. I went to the dressing room and they've got the feeling.
"I said, 'Come on lads, we've had a great three weeks, we got four points'. We'd all have been happy with it.
"Would they have been happy with it before we started? Yes, so sorry lads, I ain't going to be miserable about it. I'm off on my holidays with 10 points."
Ireland had hoped to follow up their creditable 1-1 draw in Denmark on Friday evening with a resounding win, but although they dominated possession, Gibraltar at times gave them a taste of their own medicine with a resilient defensive display.
Indeed, all they had to show for their efforts as the clock ticked into stoppage time at the end of the game was Joseph Chipolina's own goal after the defender inadvertently deflected David McGoldrick's 29th-miunute effort past keeper Kyle Godwin when the initial shot had been missing the target by some distance.
Substitute Robbie Brady added a late second with a header from James McClean's cross to cement the win, but the Republic's inability to break down a stubborn rearguard was a concern.
McCarthy said: "When you've had that amount of shots crosses and balls in the box, I'd like to have scored more goals.
"I'd like to have scored more so yes, we weren't as good as the players would have liked to be, they were disappointed.
"Maybe I should congratulate them [Gibraltar] for being so belligerent and stubborn and defending well, but we were pretty wasteful.
"So, we'll work at it, we'll continue to work at it - but I'd have taken 10 points beforehand."
Follow Sporting Life on social media - find us on Facebook here or tweet @SportingLifeFC
Related football links
