John Kiely paid Cork their dues but says he's 'incredibly proud' of his Limerick team.
Cork dethroned Limerick, stopping their bid for five All-Ireland hurling titles in a row at the semi-final stage on Saturday.
Inspired by the man-of-the-match Brian Hayes, Cork defeated Limerick by 1-28 to 0-29 in a game that will be remembered as one of the all-time classics.
In front of a sold out Croke Park crowd, Cork and Limerick produced a remarkable spectacle which Cork won, according to Kiely, because of their superior 'efficiency.'
Speaking to RTÉ after the game, the Limerick manager praised both teams for fighting to the end.
"Cork pulled away a bit in the middle of that second half," he said.
"At the same time, I thought we finished the game quite strong. "I think we definitely created enough scoring opportunities.
"It just boiled down to efficiency at the end of the day, and theirs' was better than ours', and that's top level sport."
'We had hoped that 2024 we could push on and find new levels again and we have in many respects but it just wasn't to be'
John Kiely reacts to Limerick's quest for five All-Irelands in a row ending at hands of Cork#sundaygame pic.twitter.com/xFxQNLSHZB — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 7, 2024
Kiely felt it wasn't for a lack of hunger or desire that Limerick were beaten, and praised his side for all they've done over the last number of years.
"I'm just after thanking all the people involved there.
There isn't 53, there's probably 22 being honest," he said with a laugh, as a reference to Declan Hannon's 53 man comment after the Munster final.
"It's not easy to come back time after time after time and show the levels of hunger and desire that our lads have shown for so many years."
"It wasn't that today they didn't have that desire or hunger for it either.
"It came down to such small margins.
"I'm grateful to them, as everyone in Limerick should be for what they have done over the last number of years.
"It's been an incredible achievement. We had hoped that 2024 we could push on and find new levels again and we have in many respects but it just wasn't to be."
7 July 2024; A dejected Adam English of Limerick after the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final match between Limerick and Cork at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by John Sheridan/Sportsfile
The bright sparks for Limerick were the displays of Adam English and Shane O'Brien who hit 0-4 between them off the bench but Kiely admitted some players may not be back next year.
That's for another day, he added. For now, it'll be a rare summer without the glisten of Liam MacCarthy in Limerick.
"It's time for us to step aside in this year's championship and wish the best of luck to Clare and Cork in the final," he said.
"There will be some people in that room who may not be there next year but that is for another day," he said. "We'll let them all go away and reflect and absorb what happened today.
"It was a difficult one and it hurts. It hurts immeasurably.
"But we will process it. I have no doubt that Limerick hurling and those boys in that dressingroom will bounce back come 2025."
