In front of an estimated 200 Carrick Rangers investors, who were making themselves heard throughout, it was an open start to the game with the first effort coming from Joshua Archer of Linfield on nine minutes.
The midfielder let fly from 30 yards but the ball zipped just wide of the left-hand upright.
Eleven minutes later the Belfast side went close from a Kyle McClean corner that flashed off the head of Matthew Fitzpatrick and across the face of the Carrick goal. Archer had a go from the clearance but he couldn't keep his drive down from outside the box.
Carrick's first chance came on 26 minutes when a long ball over the top sent Paul Heatley clear. The striker bore down on keeper Chris Johns but he couldn't beat the keeper with his effort and the ball was cleared.
Then on 36 minutes a huge moment in the game. Leahy saw red for pulling back Joseph Moore, who had run clean through on goal. Ten minutes later and the numerical advantage would pay dividends for the hosts.
A free-kick into the area found McCullough, who headed to Joe Crowe at the back post. His effort was brilliantly saved by Johns, but the keeper could only parry the ball into the path of Matthew Olosunde and he smashed home from two yards just before the half-time whistle.
Five minutes after the break and it could have been two. The ball was crossed into the heart of the Linfield box from the right and there was Heatley with a wonderful low volley from 12 yards that looked destined for the right-hand corner of goal, but somehow Johns, at full stretch, saved to his left at full reach to knock the ball away for a corner.
Chris McKee went close for the Blues soon after but Carrick took control when Luke McCullough scored on 72 minutes. Mikey Place did superbly down the right before drilling a low cross into the danger area. After a scramble it was the captain who rifled home from 10 yards beyond the reach of Johns.