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 joined the Kerry senior team in 1953 and won an All-Ireland title in his debut season.
[2] At club level, Cronin won three County Championships with Collins Barracks, while he also lined out for Milltown/Castlemaine.
Born in Milltown, County Kerry, Cronin joined the Irish Army at the age of 18 and was a Quarter Master Sergeant attached to the Military Hospital at Collins Barracks in Cork.