Cronin first came to
Gaelic football prominence in a number of
army tournaments. His performances saw him join his brother
Jimmy on the Cork senior team. Cronin won a
Munster Championship in his first full season on the team in 1949, before being named
captain of the team the following year. He claimed a second Munster Championship title as well as a
National League title in his last year with the team in 1952. Cronin joined the Kerry senior team in 1953 and won an
All-Ireland title in his debut season. During his four-year tenure with the team, he won three consecutive provincial titles before winning a second All-Ireland title in 1955. At club level, Cronin won three
County Championships with
Collins Barracks, while he also lined out for
Milltown/Castlemaine. ==Personal life and death==