The Westmeath club hand one hand on three points until a late equaliser.
Athlone were held to a frustrating draw in this season's first midlands derby in the League of Ireland First Division on Saturday.
Dario Castelo's side took the lead against Longford early in the second half through a Gideon Tetteh strike.
They were pegged back two minutes from the end of normal time after Emmanuel James headed in the equaliser.
That result leaves Athlone in third in the standings ahead of their next outing against UCD on Friday evening.