It was Celtic who had first attempt of the day when Paul McGowan fired his 18 yard shot over the bar, from there Rangers went upfeild a minute later and Chris Smith found himself on the end of a free kick just inside the 6 yard box, but from the narrow angle his shot just went over the bar.
With the match being played at the usual Old Firm frantic pace Moses Ashikodi found himself in the referees note book for an off the ball incident spotted by the near side Assistant.
In the no holds barred match John Johnston was then booked when he followed through on McGowan from the back after only 23 minutes.
It was becoming a struggle in midfield as Simon Ferry controled play in that area of the pitch for the Hoops and a swirling cross come shot was tipped onto the bar by Scott Gallacher.
Shortly afterwards Mark Millar tried his luck from 20 yards after a mazy run through the Rangers midfield but his shot went narrowly wide.
It was only a matter of time before the breakthrough for Celtic despite the attempts of the heroic Chris Smith, who was a stalwart at the back for Rangers.
On 34 minutes the ball broke to Ryan Conroy out on the left and as Scott Gallacher came off his line to try and collect, the Celtic winger cleverly lobbed the keeper onto the onrushing Dairmuid O'Carroll who allowed the ball to bounce before placing his header into the empty net, despite the best efforts of Smith to close him down.
Celtic almost doubled their lead soon after when Ross Perry failed to clear the ball in the box but he redeamed himself by bravely blocking the shot to send the ball out for a corner.
With half time beckoning Rangers were trying to stem the green and white tide and a free kick from Paul Caddis was excellently saved by Scott Gallacher to keep the score at the interval only 1-0.
The Rangers coaches made two changes for the start of the second half, bringing on William McLachlan and John Fleck for Ross Perry and Jason Crooks respectively.
Whilst the young Light Blues tried to get themselves back into the match it was the hosts who were controlling proceedings and on 51 minutes Simon Ferry broke down the left, leaving despairing defenders in his wake but the brave Gallacher collected the ball as he closed in on goal.
At this point the match was slipping away from the tired Gers and a Mark Millar cross was met by Celtic sub Paul Cahillane whose first touch since coming on a minute earlier was to rattle the post.
Both side made a substitution on 56 minutes with Stephen Stirling replacing young Danny Wilson for Rangers and Jacob Lensky replacing Celtic skipper Charlie Grant.
Soon afterwards it looked like Rangers would find the elusive equaliser when a Brain Gilmour free kick found the head of Jordan McMillan on the edge of the six yard box but the midfielders header went meakly wide.
With Rangers now putting Celtic on the back foot John Johston found himself with the ball breaking to him in the box but he squandered the chance to bring the sides level.
The missed opportunities of that period were to prove crucial as Simon Ferry drilled the ball into a ruck of players inside the 18 yard box and the attempt to block the shot by Stirling only succeded in deflecting the ball into the net past the outstretched arm of Gallacher.
That second goal on 69 minutes deflated the young Light Blues and if it wasn't for the heroics of Chris Smith and Scott Gallacher Celtic could have won the match by a more emphatic scoreline.
The League Champions were in the mood to rub Rangers noses in it and it was a relieved Rangers side when Stephen Allan blew for time to end the agony of a Old Firm defeat for the second time this season.
Failure to take anything from the match means Rangers finish in 3rd place behind Motherwell on goal difference, but while Celtic proved to be worthy Champions the New Era dawning will bring a new hope throughout the Club at all levels.
Todays Teams;
Celtic - Fox, Caddis, Richardson, Grant (Lensky), McCafferty, O'Dea, Millar, Ferry, O'Carroll (Cahillane), McGowan, Conroy (Staunton),
Not used - Skinner, Traub
Rangers - Gallacher, Ure, Wilson (Stirling), Perry (McLachlan), Smith, McMillan, Lennon, Gilmour, Ashikodi, Crooks (Fleck), Johnston.
Not used - Sagar, Woods
RANGERS;- Reidford, Lowing, Ure, Frizzel, Perry (Johnston 33), Emslie, McLachlan, Lennon (Agnew 77), N'Guessan, Shinney (Smith 84), McMillan
Unused Subs - Sagar, Woods
CELTIC - Fox, Caddis, Richardson, Bjarnasson, Cuthbert, McCafferty, Walsh (Carey), Ferry, O'Brien, McGowan, Millar.(McGeough 71),
Unused Subs - Skinner, Hutchison, Traube