Thornliebank was a favourite in the competition, as the club supplied 4 players to the Renfrewshire representative side for the season's matches against the Ayrshire association.

After two easy ties, the club struggled to a 1–0 win over Barrhead Rangers,[9] with a breakaway goal five minutes from time.

The club also put 12 past Rob Roy of Callander in the fifth round before meeting the 3rd Lanarkshire R.V.

After the original tie at Deacon's Bank ended in a draw, and a hurricane-force storm prevented extra-time,[13] the replay took place at Copeland Park in Govan, the home of South-Western, as the Thirds' regular Cathkin Park ground was being used for Scottish FA trial matches.

The home advantage proved decisive; although Shields took the lead, and generally dominated the game, the ground was "hard as iron, rendering dribbling an impossibility", and the home side scored two late goals to reach the final.

The club replaced Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Football Combination during the 1897–98 season and stayed in the league until 1901, albeit always struggling, and finishing bottom in 1900–01.

Thornliebank scratched from the consolation cup[21] and was formally dissolved at the end of the season.