[2] Crotty first played hurling to a high standard as a student at St Kieran's College, however, his tenure ended without silverware.
While his brother had enjoyed success with Dicksboro, a period of decline in the 1960s resulted in Crotty joining the nearby James Stephens club.
[11][12] He brought his club career to an end after captaining James Stephens to a 2-14 to 1-08 defeat by Ballyhale Shamrocks in the 1983 Kilkenny SHC final.
Crotty began his inter-county career with Kilkenny as a member of the minor team that lost the 1963 Leinster MHC final to Wexford.
[19] Kilkenny's sequence of championship success was broken in 1976, however, Crotty added a National Hurling League medal to his collection.
He claimed a fifth Leinster SHC winners' medal in 1978, however, Kilkenny lost out to Cork in the subsequent All-Ireland final.
Championship successes followed with Kilkenny claiming the Leinster SHC title before beating Cork in the 1983 All-Ireland final.