VIDEO: CARRICK RANGERS 2 DONEGAL CELTIC 0

DC’s Patrick Kelly saw red for the visitors midway through the first half before Kane’s 67th-minute header gave the home side the edge. Arthur’s late strike put the gloss on a comfortable afternoon’s work for Gary Haveron’s men.

The game started brightly with winger Correy Davidson nipping in behind the DC defence on the left, only to steer his shot wide of the upright.

Later debutant Kane unleashed a shot which stung the palms of DC stopper Malachy Thompson.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, Davidson was again the threat but Kane, free as a bird just inside the 18-yard box, misread the cross and executed what is commonly known as an ‘airshot’.

Nicky Maye’s Hoops were reduced to 10 men when Kelly was given a straight red for a rash foul on Aaron Smyth.

Ten minutes after the break Ben Roy flashed a right-foot shot over the bar after superb build-up play from the impressive Conor McCloskey.

Denver Taggart led a DC counter-attack on 62 minutes but the full-back chose to go it alone when the unmarked Joe Todd was in a far better position for a pot on goal. Taggart was easily dispossed by his Carrick namesake - the experienced Glenn Taggart.

The defining moment of the match came on 65 minutes when McCloskey skipped past left-back Patirck Mallon before picking out Kane who gleefully guided his header across goal and past the helpless Thompson.

Arthur wrapped things up with a routine close-range finish right at the death.

Carrick Rangers: Neeson, Smyth, O’Kane, Taggart, Donaghy, Harmon (McCann 39), McCloskey, Kane, Roy, Lynch (Kelly 73), Davidson. Subs not used: Mills, McKenna, Arthur.

Donegal Celtic: Thompson, Taggart (Gilmore 70), Mallon, Hughes, Bradley, Devine (Hawkins 77), Kelly, Templeton, Carson, Stuart, Todd (McCrory 76), Stuart. Subs not used: Burns, Heatley.

Referee: Evan Boyce. Assistants: Ken Ross, Andrew Butler.