To get a mate shot is mean (6)
I believe the answer is:
paltry
'is mean' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'to get a mate shot' is the wordplay.
'to get' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'a mate' becomes 'pal' (I've seen this before).
'shot' becomes 'try' (I've seen this in other clues**).
'pal' next to 'try' is 'PALTRY'.
(Other definitions for paltry that I've seen before include "Small and mean" , "Meagre; petty, trivial" , "Petty - worthless" , "Trivial, comtemptible" , "Measly, trifling" .)