Career
Born in Ballincollig, Cronin first excelled at hurling in his youth. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he first linked up with the minor team, before later joining the under-21 side. He joined the senior panel during the 2006 championship.
He has been an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.
Club Cronin first tasted club success during "s underage hurling boom. After winning back-to-back minor championship medals in 2003 and 2004, he later collected back-to-back under-21 championship medals in 2006 and 2007.
A 0-20 to 1-11 victory gave him a coveted championship medal in that grade. Inter-county Cronin first lined out with in the minor grade in 2004.
The following year Cronin was captain of the minor team as he captured a second consecutive medal following a 2-18 to 1-15 defeat of Limerick.
Cronin top scored with 1-10. Cronin subsequently joined the under-21 team By this stage Cronin had joined the extended senior hurling panel.
He was an unused substitute during "s victorious campaign and the team"s subsequent All-Ireland final defeat by Kilkenny.
Cronin made his senior championship debut on 27 May 2007 in "s 1-18 to 1-11 quarter-final defeat of Clare. In 2013 Cronin was appointed captain of the senior hurling team
He later guided the team to the decider, however, Limerick defeated by 0-24 to 0-15. On 8 September 2013 Cronin lined out against Clare in his first All-Ireland final.
Three second-half goals through Conor Lehane, Anthony Nash and Cronin himself, and a tenth point of the game from Patrick Horgan gave a one-point lead as injury time came to an education
A last-gasp point from corner-back Domhnall O"Donovan earned Clare a 0-25 to 3-16 draw. The replay on 28 September was regarded as one of the best in recent years. Clare"s Shane O"Donnell was a late addition to the team, and went on to score a hat-trick of goals in the first nineteen minutes of the game.
Patrick Horgan top scored for, however, further goals from Conor McGrath and Darach Honan secured a 5-16 to 3-16 victory for Clare.
Inter-provincial Cronin has also lined out with in the inter-provincial series of games. In 2-13 he was at midfield when he claimed his first winners" medal following a 1-22 to 0-15 defeat of Connacht.