My ranking of the importance of Kerry's competitions to players:
1) County Championship
2) Club championships, senior, intermediate, premier junior, junior, novice
3) divisional championships
4) county league
5) divisional league
My opinion is all...some might switch 2 and 3.
More questions:
Are the divisional championships played between club teams in that Divisional area as oppose to between divisional sides?
Do club senior teams play in all these championships? Is there separate reserve teams or what?
Is there a divisional teams only competition?
Finally, is there a reason the County Championship is played this time of year? Weather being shite and all that.
Divisional Championships are played within each division only and usually occur in November/December. The North Kerry championship is often described as the toughest football championship to win (and equally tough to play in, by some reports), although the quality has dipped in the last few years. This year, East Kerry championship is at quarter-final stage right now, with Dr. Crokes playing Kilcummin this Saturday 16 Nov. South Kerry's championship often concludes on St. Stephen's Day, much to the delight of visitors - AZ can add more on the local rivalries in that corner of the world.
Senior teams only in divisional championships. There are very few "reserve" teams in Kerry (referred to as B teams), with one major exception in Dr. Crokes B playing in Division 2 of the County League this year. Most B teams (and a Dr. Crokes C team) play in Division 5 of the county league and have no other games. Kerry clubs also have a Friday night junior league to play in, run by the County Board, but I'm not certain what qualifies or prevents a player in participating and not all clubs field a team. The county board are missing a trick in not getting those Friday night games on some sort of broadcast - "Friday Night Fights by Players Not So Light".
I might add that a club's senior team in Kerry is what you might call the first team - even if in division 5 of the county league. So the Kilgarvan senior team plays in the county novice championship...ok?
No divisional teams competition exists at this time, although back a few decades there was a "Kerryman Shield" competition to give the divisional sides competitive action before the county championship started up.
Regarding timing of the county championship, that is entirely driven by the county team's exit from the All-Ireland. Pre-Super 8's, the first round was always held the week after the Munster Final which greatly helped the back end of the championship.
This year saw the first round set for 14/15 September (All-Ireland final on 1 Sept), but the replay scuppered that. Instead Rounds 1, 2 and 3 were played on consecutive weekends starting the weekend after the All-Ireland replay. One Rd 3 game was postponed a week, but all quarter finals were played on 19/20 October. Semi-finals the following weekend, with one replay on 3 Nov. Final on 10 November and Munster club game for Kerry representatives (Austin Stacks) on 17 November, since they won the Club championship back in April (senior, intermediate, premier junior, junior and novice championships held and completed in April).
A Dr. Crokes player on the county team has played 6 county championship games since the All-Ireland replay on 15 September, and has an East Kerry quarter final this Saturday and they will be hoping for more games into December.
Weather has not caused any postponements so far, shite and all as it might be.
EDIT: I must add that each divisional area also runs a league competition, usually held in February/early March before the county league starts. In East Kerry, it is known as the East Kerry Super League...no premierships or any ordinary titles. A good preseason-type tournament that gets each club 4 or 5 games early in the year.