Limerick's defeat to Cork in a classic All-Ireland hurling semi-final 'hurts immeasurably' but John Kiely has vowed that the Treaty will bounce back in 2025.

Two games from history, Limerick saw their drive for five halted by an inspired Cork side, who withstood their Munster rival's late surge to prevail 1-28 to 0-29 in front of over 82,000 in Croke Park.

"Hats off to Cork. Congratulations to them, we wish them well. They fought to the bitter end," Kiely said afterwards. "They were that bit more efficient than us. But I have to say I am incredibly proud of the efforts of our team.

"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."

Limerick fought back from a seven-point deficit to within two but Kiely and his assistant Paul Kinnerk were left to rue an unusual lack of efficiency from their sixin-a-row Munster champions.

"I thought we finished the game quite strong. Definitely created enough scoring opportunities, I think we had 38 scoring opportunities to their 36.

"It boiled down to efficiency at end of the day and theirs was better than ours. That's top quality sport."

But Kiely could not fault the effort of his side, who fought to the end as they suffered their first defeat in Croke Park since the 2019 semi-final loss to Kilkenny.

"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," he told RTÉ Sport.

They may not have made history with five in a row, but the future is undoubtedy bright for Limerick, with the likes of Shane O'Brien and Adam English making a big impact off the bench.

"We have a lot of lads coming through. They're young and they're learning as well. I thought they did make a good impact when they came on. A few of them are a little disappointed they would have liked more out of it. That's part of the journey too," said Kiely.

"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 added, before accepting that the dressing room may lose a few players and/or backroom members in the coming months.

"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."