Athlone town were delighted to escape with a draw from St Colman's Park on Saturday after this Cup tie had exploded into life with two goals in added time

Cobh Ramblers looked to have snatched a win when they scored in the 90th minute. But a last desperate attack by Athlone yielded a precious equalising goal four minutes into injury-time.

Cobh surprised Athlone with a win here in the league just a few weeks ago and they went desperately close to repeating that feat.

Athlone deserve another game, however, for they should have been ahead at half-time. Andy Myler had a header taken off the goalline by Thomas Hughes after just six minutes and Alan McNevin miss-kicked with only the goalkeeper to beat after a mistake by Hughes in the 33rd minute.

Cobh went close twice themselves in the second half, once when Donal Golden headed over from Willie Byrne's freekick in the 50th minute and again when a fierce Byrne free from 35 yards was turned over at the last moment by goalkeeper Gary Connaughton.

This last incident occurred in the 90th minute and when Anthony Wolfe drove home a left-foot volley following the corner-kick from Declan McGregor, it looked as if Cobh had snatched it.

Then in the fourth minute of added time Athlone substitute Mick Collins' cross found Eric Molloy unmarked in the penalty area and he showed admirable calmness as he controlled the ball before firing a right-foot shot home to force a replay.

COBH RAMBLERS; Donegan; Hughes, Murphy, Wolfe, Byrne; Sweeney, Clifford, Cregoe; Golden, Coughlan, Bruton. Subs: Dunne for Cregoe (61 mins), McGregor for Golden (80 mins).

ATHLONE TOWN: Connaughton; Costello, O'Brien, Brazil, O'Driscoll, Connolly, Kelly, Harte, Myler, McNevin, Carbery. Subs: Collins for Carbery (65 mins), Molloy for Harte (73 mins).

Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).